Volume 30 Number 1 Article 12 Pages: 14-14
Year 1976 Month 1
Title: Breeding Low Chilling Peaches for Texas
Author: H.H. Bowen
Citation
Abstract:
The very low chilling South China
peaches were used initially in controlled
breeding to introduce genes
for low chilling into the gene pool for
desirable horticultural types with high
chilling.
In Texas, Florida selections
and cultivars have been used mostly
as low chilling parents having chilling
requirements (C.R.) of 100 to 450
hours.
These parents have been crossed
with good horticultural types having
C.R. in the range of 750 to 950
hours.
No dficulty has been observed
in obtaining a good recombination of
all desired characteristics.
Of 122
1975 selections, 55 were assigned a
rating of 7 or better (1-10 scale)
for each of the characteristics of
fruit size, firmness and attractiveness.
Twen seven selections were made
with about 400 hours C.R. which can
be crossed back to desirable high
chilling types.
Also based on bloom
date more than 200 seedlings in the
breeding material have C.R. of less
than 400 hours, but did not bear in
1974 and 1975 because of spring frosts.
Some of these selections presumably
can be used for further breeding.
First bloom date appears to be a reliable
criterion for selecting C.R. Year
to year variations are closely related
to temperature at and near bloom
time.
Full bloom correlates well with
first bloom except for types not receiving
adequate chilling.
Generally progeny
means have been intermediate
between that of the 2 parents with
seedling C.R. being distributed more
or less continuously between that of
the 2 parents.
The commercial industry
is developing most rapidly in the
northern part of South Texas in areas
accumulating 400 to 600 hours of chilling
temperatures.
Hence, the need is
greatest for cultivars with this range
of chilling requirements.
Peach rust is one of the most important
cultural problems in South
Texas.
A source of resistance to this
disease is needed.
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