(264) Progress in Developing Non-melting-flesh Peaches for Fresh-market Use

Abstract

The primary purpose of the three-way cooperative regional project involving the USDA, University of Georgia, and University of Florida, is to develop improved fresh-market peach cultivars for use in the moderate-chill areas of the southeastern United States. Since 1995, this project has concentrated on the development of non-melting flesh materials as an alternative to conventional melting-type cultivars. It is our belief that the slower softening, non-melting characteristic will allow growers to pick fruit several days later at a more mature stage, thus improving eating quality without sacrificing shipping ability. To date, this program has released three non-melting peach cultivars and is poised to release several more. Through our postharvest evaluations we have been able to demonstrate that these new releases and selections have equal, if not superior, firmness compared to current commercial melting-type cultivars, in combination with higher soluble solids and soluble solids/titratable acidity ratios. Compared to current commercial melting-type cultivars, the new non-melting releases and selections display superior red skin blush, fruit shape, and cropping ability. Moreover, they are of comparable size and have a significantly reduced incidence of split and shattered pits.