Abstract
Willow-leaf peaches, reported by Lesley (1957) as a product of inbreeding but also mentioned as far back as 1887 (Hedrick, 1917), are characterized by a narrow leaf shape. We received willow-leaf germplasm from Wayne Sherman (Univ. of Florida, Gainesville), who selected a peach seedling with unusually narrow leaves from a group of seedling rootstocks. His original willow-leaf tree bore very small, poor-quality fruit. In 1983, it was used in breeding at the USDA-ARS breeding program at Byron to develop willow-leaf peaches with improved fruit types. After four generations, current selections are approaching commercial fruit standards in size, color, firmness, and attractiveness. Inheritance studies indicate the character is at least partially dominant and is expressed in some F1 seedlings of crosses with wild-type parents. However, the precise mode of inheritance remains unclear as the ratios do not fit common patterns. Progeny show a range of leaf narrowness, complicating characterization of genotype. The character may be useful in standard-type trees to enhance spray penetration, speed drying of the foliage to reduce disease, improve light penetration and photosynthetic efficiency, and make the fruit more visible to speed picking.
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