Peach Culture

With a tradition of over 40 years, the Working Group Peach Culture within ISHS is one of the most numerous and best represented worldwide. Made up of leading peach specialists from six continents, the Working Group addresses all the issues of peach and nectarine cultivation, from the creation and testing of new varieties and rootstocks, to studies of genetics, breeding, eco-physiology, planting systems, plant protection, fruit quality, postharvest handling and fruit marketing.

The central objectives of members of the Working Group are to reduce the negative impact of conventional cultivation systems on the environment and, to increase production and handling efficiencies, biodiversity, resilience and adaptability of peach plantations to climate change, as well as to control new alien invasive species of pests and diseases, etc.

Globally, there are several research teams that are focused on topics specific to each growing area. These include determining optimal variety/rootstock combinations, peach orchard architectures, use of sensors to monitor growth, development and fruiting of trees, and developing other smart means for production management. Integrated and organic production systems are also studied and promoted.

The Working Group Peach Culture usually meets every 4-5 years on the occasion of an International Peach Symposium. Since 1984, numerous symposia have been organized of which the Acta Horticulturae symposium proceedings have been published and are available on the ISHS website.