PEACH BREEDING PROGRAMME FOR NEW CULTIVARS AND DIFFERENT TRAITS - POMOLOGICAL AND PHENOLOGICAL DATA ANALYSIS WITH A RANKING METHOD

Abstract

The main goals of the breeding programme developed at CRA-FRU are presented. These include the selections of new types of peaches and nectarines. We considered traits specifically limited to the fruit such as: flat shape, low-acid taste, anthocyaninless and bloody flesh. All the descriptive (pomological, phenological, agronomical) data, collected over 20 years on 535 advanced selections (365 peaches and 170 nectarines) were analyzed using a ranking method, in order to depict the best performing individuals. The most important characteristics in the evaluation were: weight, shape and over-color (with a higher ranking score), taste, firmness, fruit symmetry, yield and ripening period. Among the 365 peach selections, 42 flat peaches, 21 anthocyaninless, 39 bloody fleshed and 5 low acid were identified for further analysis. Among the 170 nectarines, 8 flat, 1 anthocyaninless, 2 low acid, and 20 bloody fleshed selections were identified for further analysis. In order to select the most promising individuals, specific multi-criteria ranking method was adopted for each fruit type: for the flat shape, the absence of cracking and other damages; for low acid, the Soluble Solid Concentration (SSC); for the anthocyaninless flesh, the white-cream skin and flesh coloration and the perception of low acid taste; for the bloody flesh, the red flesh color higher than 35%, the SSC content and the lack of cracking and rust were considered. The last step was to exclude the contemporaneous selections and those that ripen at the same time as the licensed or commercial cultivars. Using above criteria it was possible to discard about 90% of the selections. The pomological and phenological characteristics of the top peach selections are presented.