ISHS Acta Horticulturae 565: VI International Symposium on Temperate Fruit Growing in the Tropics and Subtropics
IMPORTANCE OF BRAZILIAN PEACH GERMPLASM FOR THE MEXICAN SUBTROPICS |
| Author: | S. Pérez-Gonzalez |
| Keywords: | adaptability, disease resistance, low chilling |
| Abstract:
Brazil and Mexico share similarities in climate and have good possibilities for peach production to satisfy national demand and reduce imports. Annual production (120,000-200,000 t) is also similar. While main peach production regions in Mexico are located in the semiarid central north, in Brazil most production is concentrated in the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo (Agrianual, 1999; Barbosa, 1990). Chilling accumulation for these climates ranges from 650 hours (2-8 oC) to less than 50. Both countries could benefit from sharing germplasm and information related to germplasm collection, conservation, analysis and use. The objectives of this work were to describe Brazilian peach cultivars grown in Mexico and analyse their possibilities for breeding. Varieties introduced from Brazil and hibrid seedlings from crosses with South African entries were evaluated in subtropical ecosystems of central Mexico from 1996 to 1999. Vigor, susceptibility to oidium (Spaheroteca pannosa) bloom and harvest season, fruit development period, fruit quality and shelf life were recorded. Early introductions included mainly clingstone canning peaches like "Diamante", "Magno", and other cultivars, such as Br-3 and "Chiripa". Recent introductions include "Chimarrita", "Premier", "Granada", "El Dorado", "Precocinho", etc. They are under evaluation in representative ecosystems and may be recommended for their adaptability, disease resistance, and fruit quality in terms of consumer preference. The most important contribution of Brazilian cultivars is their role as parents in crosses with native peaches, which have resulted in the generation of "San Juan", "Regio", "Acuitzio", etc., which are now replacing "Diamante". | |
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