ISHS Acta Horticulturae 374: III International Peach Symposium
GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF PEACH, NECTARINE AND APRICOT CULTIVARS AND ROOTSTOCKS FOR CANADA |
| Author: | R.E.C. Layne |
| Keywords: | Breeding, Prunus persica, P. armeniaca, cold hardiness, disease resistance |
| Abstract:
A breeding program to improve peach, nectarine and apricot cultivars and rootstocks was initiated in the early 1960's at the Harrow Research Station, in southwestern Ontario. Major breeding objectives have included the genetic improvement of cold hardiness, late blooming, tree vigour, annual productivity, natural central leader growth habit, precocity, uniformity of ripening and freedom from major disorders including preharvest fruit drop, split pits, and skin cracking. Other character of importance included disease resistance, especially to perennial canker (Leucostoma spp.), bacterial spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni) and brown rot (Monilia fructicola). Important fruit characteristics for improvement included extension of harvest season from early to late, improvement of fruit size, skin colour, flesh firmness, freeness, sweetness, juiciness, and extension of shelf life. Rootstock breeding objectives have emphasized cold hardiness, diseases resistance, high seed productivity, good seed germination, compatibility with a wide range of scion cultivars, freedom from suckering, and adaptation to sandy loam and clay loam soils. This research has led to the introduction of 10 yellow-fleshed, cold hardy, disease resistant, peach cultivars for the fresh market ("Harbelle", "Canadian Harmony", "Harbrite", "Harken", "Harbinger", "Harland", "Harson", "Harrow Beauty", "Harcrest", "Harrow Diamond"); 3 cold hardy ornamental peach cultivars ("Harrow Candifloss", "Harrow Frostipink", "Harrow Rubirose"); 2 hardy rootstock seed sources for peach and nectarine ("Harrow Blood", "Siberian C"); 3 attractive, disease resistant, cold hardy, nectarines ("Harko", "Hardired", "Harblaze"); 7 cold hardy, disease resistant, high quality, apricot cultivars ("Harcot", "Harogem", "Hargrand", "Harlayne", "Harglow", "Laycot", "Harval") and a highly productive, rootstock seed source for apricot ("Haggith"). Collectively, these cultivar and rootstock introductions have had a major impact on the Canadian fruit industry. In addition, some of these introductions are being commercially grown in other countries and used as parents by other Prunus breeders, especially as genetic resources for improving cold hardiness, disease resistance and fruit quality. | |
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