PROMISING PEACH CULTIVARS FOR USE IN BREEDING

Abstract

As a result of the study of 387 cultivars of peach in the collection of the NBG according to economically valuable features: the time of entry into fruiting, the term, strength and duration of flowering, the ripening period, chemical composition, fruit quality, yield, resistance to frost, drought, fungal diseases – 139 cultivars were identified with a set of indicators for the greatest degree of their manifestation. Among North American cultivars, 24 cultivars were noted by the combination of two features, 12 cultivars – of three, one cultivar – of four and 2 cultivars - of five. From the European cultivars of the NBG breeding, 41 cultivars were distinguished by a complex of two features, 23 cultivars – of three, six – of four, and two – of five. Among the European introduced cultivars, 13 cultivars were selected by a combination of two traits, four cultivars - of three features. In the group of Central Asian, Chinese, Caucasian and Transcaucasian cultivars, 10 – were noted by a combination of two indicators. Cultivars identified by individual or a complex of economically valuable feature are of interest for use in breeding programs to create new cultivars of peach for industrial horticulture