‘Intensia’ is a dwarfing almond × peach hybrid rootstock obtained and released by the Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA). This new rootstock is well-suited for modern intensive Prunus production models such as super high-density systems for almonds due to its ability to reduce vigor. Furthermore, ‘Intensia’ confronts certain challenges faced by Prunus crops in Mediterranean climates that are not currently addressed by existing rootstocks. The novel rootstock is characterized by conferring reduced vigor to the grafted cultivar, early bearing, adaptation to calcareous soils and other Mediterranean agroecological conditions, easy clonal propagation, reduced number of sylleptic shoots, and good graft compatibility with a wide range of peach and almond cultivars. ‘Intensia’ also exhibits outstanding agronomic performance in almond trials, including the promotion of early bearing, delayed flowering, early harvest induction, improved cropping efficiency, and drought tolerance by water use efficiency. This rootstock has also played a remarkable role in the recent development of Prunus genetics worldwide.

Unbudded trees of ‘Intensia’ showed reduced vigor coupled with upright and compact canopy. The leaves exhibit a green coloration with a morphology intermediate between almond and peach. The flowers are large (similar size to parentals), showy type, with five large pale-pink petals, reddish anthers, along with the uncommon traits of multiple pistils. The ‘Intensia’ rootstock blooms early, at the same time as the almond cultivar Nonpareil. The fruit is intermediate in size, between ‘Texas’ and ‘Earlygold’ mature fruits, resembling a peach in shape. Fruits are characterized to be nonjuicy, with red skin and flesh, and thick flesh

Peer reviewed