Articles
SUPERIOR TASTE AND KEEPING QUALITY ARE STEADY GOALS OF THE PEACH BREEDING ACTIVITY AT CRA-FRF, ITALY
Article number
1084_24
Pages
179 – 186
Language
English
Abstract
Mature peaches and nectarines have a short life on tree and after harvest.
Due to the rapid loss of firmness, melting peaches and nectarines are often picked at a premature physiological stage, especially when they are intended for distant markets, to the detriment of the quality at consumption.
In the most important peach-growing countries in Europe, the excessive early harvest has caused the loss of considerable market share.
Releasing new cultivars which, together with the good and broad environmental adaptability, are featured with fruit having superior taste and long keeping quality on tree and at post-harvest has been a steady goal of the CRA-FRF (Italy) peach breeding program since its start, in 1980. Significant improvement of the fruit keeping quality was obtained by introducing, through controlled crosses, the non-melting, the slow softening and the stony-hard traits into fresh market peaches.
The stony-hard fruit, in particular, keeps a very firm and crispy texture for weeks on the tree, well beyond the physiological ripening.
Improvement in taste was obtained by selecting for the high sugar content, either combining it with the low acidity trait, monogenic and dominant, or discarding genotypes characterized by excessive acidity.
Good taste was also associated with other novel traits such as the flat shape, the red flesh or the complete lack of red pigmentation.
Morphological and qualitative description of the most advanced CRA-FRF breeding selections are provided.
Due to the rapid loss of firmness, melting peaches and nectarines are often picked at a premature physiological stage, especially when they are intended for distant markets, to the detriment of the quality at consumption.
In the most important peach-growing countries in Europe, the excessive early harvest has caused the loss of considerable market share.
Releasing new cultivars which, together with the good and broad environmental adaptability, are featured with fruit having superior taste and long keeping quality on tree and at post-harvest has been a steady goal of the CRA-FRF (Italy) peach breeding program since its start, in 1980. Significant improvement of the fruit keeping quality was obtained by introducing, through controlled crosses, the non-melting, the slow softening and the stony-hard traits into fresh market peaches.
The stony-hard fruit, in particular, keeps a very firm and crispy texture for weeks on the tree, well beyond the physiological ripening.
Improvement in taste was obtained by selecting for the high sugar content, either combining it with the low acidity trait, monogenic and dominant, or discarding genotypes characterized by excessive acidity.
Good taste was also associated with other novel traits such as the flat shape, the red flesh or the complete lack of red pigmentation.
Morphological and qualitative description of the most advanced CRA-FRF breeding selections are provided.
Publication
Authors
A. Liverani, F. Brandi, I. Quacquarelli, S. Sirri , D. Giovannini
Keywords
Prunus persica L. (Batsch), flesh firmness, low acidity, stony-hard, shelf-life
Online Articles (112)