Heritability of Fruit Quality Traits in Peach and Nectarine Breeding Stocks Dwarfed by the dw Gene

Abstract

Abstract Means and heritabilities were estimated for the 2 fruit quality defects of dw/dw peach and nectarine [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] genotypes that obstruct the commercial exploitation of the advantages inherent in their dwarf growth habit. The average dw/dw peach has substandard taste and too little blush for commercial acceptance. The average dw/dw nectarine also has substandard taste. In addition, it has substandard surface polish. The heritability of taste (as measured by percentage of soluble solids) in UCD's dwarf peach breeding stock was estimated to be 0.17 ± 0.04. The heritability of amount of surface blush was estimated to be 0.19 ± 0.04. The heritability of percentage of soluble solids in UCD's dwarf nectarine breeding stock was estimated to be 0.35 ± 0.04; of sweetness 0.19 ± 0.09; and of flavor 0.16 ± 0.06. The heritability of skin polish was estimated to be 0.24 ± 0.13. As expected, dw appears to have little or no effect on means or heritabilities of fruit weight, fruit firmness, or ripe date. The implications of these results are discussed.