EVALUATION OF LOW-CHILL PEACH AND NECTARINE VARIETIES AT ALSTONVILLE, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

Abstract

Low-chill, subtropical peaches, {Prumis persica [L] Batsch) that originated in South China, have been grown in Australia for over 100 years. These seedlings were thought to have been brought to Australia by Chinese immigrants during the gold rush era. While improved strains of low-chill peaches have been selected by orchardists, little progress has been made to rival the fruit quality of high chill peaches and nectarines. During the past 20 years Australia has imported a wide range of low-chill peach and nectarine clones from the University of Florida breeding program. The importation of these low-chill clones has led to the establishment of an entirely new industry which has extended the traditional stonefruit districts to subtropical areas. An evaluation of the current commercial varieties grown in Australia is presented using data from the subtropical area of Alstonville, New South Wales, Australia. Information is provided on chilling requirement, harvest date, fruit weight, shape and blush. Evaluation data is presented for 13 peaches and 10 nectarines which include clones with chilling requirements of 150 to 400 chill units.