Impact of rootstock on how soon trees break dormancy

General Fruit Growing
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I noticed just recently that two persimmons grafted to the same variety, both halfway up the same long hill with nothing but grass all around them for 100’+, only about 15’ apart, so with no significant differences with regards to micro-climate/location at all, aren’t breaking dormancy at at all the same time. One is at least a week ahead of the other. The rootstocks are volunteers, so it’s possible they’re both suckers of the same root system, but my best guess is that they’re separate seedlings and they’re the reason for the difference in how far one tree is ahead of the other. I know creekweb (on gardenweb) thinks that one persimmon seedling strain is preferable because it breaks dormancy later, even after grafting, and he seems very sharp and knowledgeable, but he’s about the only person I’ve ever heard mention differences between rootstocks with regards to how soon trees initiate growth in the spring, and I haven’t heard any mention with regards to other species. Why is that? It seems like later initiation of growth would be a very important trait for many of us to consider who frequently suffer losses from late spring freeze events. Do some people think that rootstocks don’t make any significant difference in how soon trees break dormancy? Are there rootstocks for pears/Asian pears, apples, jujubes, mulberries, pecans, kiwis… that would be particularly desirable if one wanted his trees/vines to stay dormant longer?

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I haven’t noticed a difference with rootstocks I use for conventional fruit. That would be something easily observed and exploited by breeders, unless they’ve somehow overlooked an apparently obvious potential bonanza.

Imagine if you had the patent on an apricot rootstock that only delayed bloom by a week? Ka-ching.

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The scion not the rootstock is the greatest influence in most cases I see. By no means am I an expert just speaking from my own observations. Multi grafted trees I have leaf out at different times. Now if the rootstock pushes sap slower than others than yes it would delay the scion woods growth.