BREEDING PEACHES AND NECTARINES ADAPTED TO THE SOILS AND CLIMATE OF ARKANSAS

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: TERMINATED
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0217127
• Project No.: ARK02236
• Project Start Date: Dec 1, 2008
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2013

Project Director
Clark, J.

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703

Performing Department
Horticulture

Non Technical Summary
Arkansas was a major producer of peaches during much of the 20th century but this industry declined due to production problems and market competition from other areas. Much of this decline can be attributed to the use of poorly adapted cultivars imported from other areas. Possibilities now exist for the expansion of the peach and nectarine industries in Arkansas. A market window exists, particularly in Arkansas' expanding urban population centers, for Arkansas-grown fruit for the fresh market. Much interest has developed in eastern U.S. in the commercial production of nectarines. Consumption of this fruit has recently increased dramatically. West Coast nectarine cultivars are unadapted to eastern environments and limited has traditionally been made in the eastern U.S. to develop adapted cultivars. Ambitious programs of nectarine development have been needed east of the Rocky Mountains, and to some extent these have developed in the last few years. Increased interest in white peach production has developed in recent years, and new cultivars with better adaptation and higher postharvest handling potential are needed by the Arkansas peach industry. Both the nectarine and white peach improvements would be of great value to fresh market producers. Processing peach breeding has been conducted in Arkansas but the reduction in processing peach plantings in the State has diminished the need for this effort. Other tree fruits have adaptation to Arkansas, and an effort in apple breeding by the Arkansas AES was in place for many years. Active crossing and selection of apples has been discontinued, but selection evaluation continues but is covered under other CRIS projects. As marketing strategies for stone fruit shift to small farm production for local sales or pick-your-own enterprises, it is important that fruit cultivars be developed to meet this production need. Methods to be used include traditional/classical breeding approaches in peach and nectarine breeding. These include emasculation of flowers, controlled pollinations, and evaluation of seedlings and selections under field conditions for phenotypic characters. The expected outcome is new cultivars of high quality peaches and nectarines.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
201	1113	1080	30%
201	1114	1080	70%

Knowledge Area
201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
1114 - Peach; 1113 - Nectarine;

Field Of Science
1080 - Genetics;

Keywords

fruit breeding

peach

nectarine

fruit quality

disease resistance

prunus persica

bacterial spot resistance

Goals / Objectives
The overall goal is to develop new cultivars of peaches and nectarines with the following objectives: 1. To develop a series of adapted, high-quality nectarine cultivars to facilitate expansion of nectarine production in Arkansas. Firm, non-melting white and yellow- fleshed and standard/low acid flavored cultivars will be stressed. Peen-tao-shaped peach selections will also be developed and evaluated. 2. To develop a series of adapted, non-melting and melting fleshed white and yellow peach cultivars to expand fresh market peach production. Low acid and unique firmness will be areas of focus. Peen-tao-shaped nectarine selections will also be developed and evaluated. 3. To incorporate pest resistance in breeding material to facilitate reduced pesticide use and IPM strategies for tree fruit production. Emphasis will be in selection of bacterial spot resistant genotypes, since this disease pressure is very substantial at the site of the program activity. The expected output is new cultivars of peaches and nectarines.

Project Methods
Existing seedling and selection material of all categories from previous efforts will be vigorously evaluated for cultivar potential. Testing of selections in advanced, replicated trials will be a primary approach. The development of over 700 peach and nectarine selections, with approximately 150 of these currently in evaluation, has provided a tremendous base of material for selection testing. Selections identified for superior characteristics will be released for propagation. The primary site for these evaluations will be the Fruit Research Station at Clarksville, with secondary testing at the Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Hope. Testing of advanced selections at cooperating experiment stations in other states will be conducted. Crosses will be made at the Fruit Research Station for nectarines and peaches. Characters stressed will include improved quality, fruit size, pest resistance and reliability of cropping. Late blooming will also be a focus of crosses to result in peaches and nectarines capable of avoiding damaging spring frosts.

Progress 12/01/08 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Peach and nectarine growers are the primary audience, and secondary audiences are home gardeners, nurserymen, and fruit marketers. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Three graduate students were involved in the project, one completed and MS, two more are working on PhD degrees but are working in peach and nectarine breeding and genetics. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Yes. The new cultivar releases have been publicized through grower meetings, trade journals, websites, and personal contact by interested parties to the project director. Plus, refereed articles have been published on al releases. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The major accomplishment was the development of two white peaches, White Diamond and White Cloud, one yellow peach Souvenirs, and two nectarines Amoore Sweet and Bowden. These all offer resistance to bacterial spot disease along with a diversity of fruit products for local market growers.

Publications

• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Sandefur, P., J.R. Clark, and C. Peace. 2013. Peach Texture. Horticultural Reviews, Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, NJ. 41:241-302.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Clark, J.R. and P.J. Sandefur. 2013. Bowden and Amoore Sweet nectarines. HortScience 48:804-807.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Clark, J. R., and P.J. Sandefur. 2013. Souvenirs peach. HortScience 48:800-803.

Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Selection of seedlings and evaluation of developed genotypes was conducted during the 2012 growing season on peaches and nectarines as a good crop of fruit was experienced. Crosses were not made in 2012 due to all seedling space occupied with prior crossing results. From 2011 crosses just under 4000 seeds were generated and approximately 1700 seedlings field planted. Selections from 2008 and 2009 crosses totaled 28 including both peach and nectarine, low and standard acid, yellow and white flesh, and a range of flesh textures. Selections made in prior years were evaluated for potential variety use, parents or discard from the program. Minimal bacterial spot disease was experienced for the year, less than any prior years due to high temperatures and dry conditions. Postharvest evaluation methodology research results from 2009 and 2010 were implemented on the most promising selections to determine the best storing genotypes in the program. Phenotyping of an array of peach/nectarine selections and seedlings was done with parallel molecular genotyping done for two flesh-type molecular markers. Melting and non-melting flesh was differentiated with the markers but slow melting and melting flesh types could not differentiated. Two nectarines were released, Bowden (A-764) with white, non-melting flesh and Amoore Sweet (A-764) with yellow, non-melting flesh with low acid flavor. A peach was released, Souvenirs (A-763), a yellow, low-acid genotype with slow melting flesh. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Tree fruit growers and nurseries involved in peach and nectarine production and marketing. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Work has begun to incorporate marker-assisted selection in the breeding program, currently focusing on flesh types but to expand to other important traits.

Impacts
Three new releases provide new options for growers of peaches and nectarines for Arkansas and similar climates. These and previously developed varieties continued to be commercially marketed in 2012. Growers continue to evaluate the releases for use across the mid-South. White County and White River have been the highest sellers thus far. These varieties plus prior white peach releases offer a range of ripening dates from mid to late June to mid August. These varieties are being planted for evaluation by growers and commercial production in the eastern US.

Publications

• Frett, T.J., K. Gasic, J.R. Clark, D. Byrne, T. Gradziel,, and C. Crisosto. 2012. Standardized phenotyping for fruit quality in peach [Prunus persica (L) Batsch]. J. Amer. Pomol. Soc. 66: 214-219.
• Sandefur, P.J., J.R. Clark, and C.P. Peace. 2012. Evaluation of fresh-market peaches and nectarines for improved harvest and storage performance characteristics. HortScience 47(9)(Supplement)-2012 SR-ASHS Annual Meeting p. S30.

Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Crossing, selection, and evaluation of developed genotypes was conducted during the 2011 growing season on peaches and nectarines as a good crop of fruit survived the prior severe winter. Crosses totaled 22 for the year with a blend of nectarines and peaches. Good seed set was had from 2011 crosses with just under 4000 seed generated. Seedling numbers planted in 2011 from 2010 crosses resulted in over 3000 trees field planted. Selections from existing seedlings totaled 16 including both peach and nectarine, low and standard acid, yellow and white flesh, and a range of flesh textures. Selections made in prior years were evaluated for potential variety use, parents or discard from the program. Moderate bacterial spot disease was experienced for the year, less than some years due to high temperatures and dry conditions in July and August. Postharvest evaluation methodology research was continued to determine the best storing genotypes in the program. Overall, non-melting flesh selections stored the best, slow-melting second, and melting the poorest. A maximum of three weeks was found to be feasible to store fruit to fully differentiate storage potential; after three weeks quality became too poor. However, there were exceptions of good and poor storage potential within types. Phenotyping of an array of peach/nectarine selections and seedlings was done with parallel molecular genotyping done for two flesh-type molecular markers. Melting and non-melting flesh was differentiated with the markers but slow melting and melting flesh types could not differentiated. Two selections were identified for potential release, one a non-melting flesh, white nectarine and one yellow, semi-freestone, slow-melting flesh peach. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Tree fruit growers and nurseries involved in peach and nectarine production and marketing. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Previously developed varieties continued to be commercially marketed in 2011. Growers continue to evaluate the releases for use across the mid-South. White County and White River have been the highest sellers thus far. These varieties plus prior white peach releases offer a range of ripening dates from mid to late June to mid August. These varieties are being planted for evaluation by growers and commercial production in the eastern US.

Publications

• Clark, J.R. and J.N. Moore. 2011. 'White Diamond' and 'White Cloud' peaches. HortScience 46:665-667.
• Sandefur, P. 2011. Characterization and molecular analysis of University of Arkansas peach flesh type and development of a post-harvest evaluation protocol for Arkansas peach and nectarine genotypes. MS Thesis, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Crossing, selection, and evaluation of developed genotypes was conducted during the 2010 growing season on peaches and nectarines. Crosses totaled 28 for the year with a blend of nectarines and peaches. Excellent seed set was had from 2010 crosses with good populations germinated and moving in 2011 to the field. Seedling numbers planted in 2010 were good but not as high as 2008. Selections from existing seedlings totaled 11 from limited seedling numbers with genotypes selected for both peach and nectarine and including low and standard acid, round and flat shape, yellow and white flesh, and a range of flesh textures. Selections made in prior years were evaluated for potential variety use, parents or discard from the program. Severe bacterial spot disease was experienced for the year, and a thorough screening of program genotypes was done for his disease as no control was applied for the growing season. Postharvest evaluation methodology research was begun to research the postharvest handling potential of peach and nectarine selections in the program. Phenotyping of an array of peach/nectarine selections and seedlings was done with parallel molecular genotyping underway specifically for flesh type characterization. PARTICIPANTS: John R. Clark, University Professor TARGET AUDIENCES: Tree fruit growers and nurseries involved in peach and nectarine production and marketing. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Two new varieties were first sold commercially from 2009 release, White Cloud and White Diamond. These releases plus prior white peach releases White River, White Rock, and White County offer a range of ripening dates from mid to late June to mid August. These varieties are being planted for evaluation by growers and commercial production in the eastern US.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Crossing, selection, and evaluation of developed genotypes was conducted during the 2009 growing season on peaches and nectarines. Crosses exceeded 20 for the year with a blend of nectarines and peaches. Seedling numbers planted in 2009 were exceptional from 2008 crosses, among the largest group ever in the program's 40+ year history. Selections from existing seedlings totaled 18 with genotypes selected for both peach and nectarine and including low and standard acid, round and flat shape, yellow and white flesh, and a range of flesh textures. Selections made in prior years were evaluated for potential variety use, parents or discard from the program. Severe bacterial spot disease was experienced for the year, and a thorough screening of program genotypes was done for his disease as no control was applied for the growing season. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Tree fruit growers and nurseries involved in peach and nectarine production and marketing. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Two new varieties were released from the program in 2009, White Cloud and White Diamond. White Cloud ripens near July 1 at Clarksville, AR and is has white, non-melting flesh and is standard acid in flavor. It is a cling peach. White Diamond ripens August 1, and is a freestone, low-acid peach. It has very firm flesh until fully ripe. Both varieties have good resistance to bacterial spot disease. These releases plus prior white peach releases White River, White Rock, and White County offer a range of ripening dates from mid to late June to mid August. These varieties are being planted for evaluation by growers and commercial production in the eastern US.

Publications

• Clark, J.R. 2009. White Diamond and White Cloud peaches. Arkansas Fruit and Nut Newsletter, Vol. 5 Nov. 9, 2009.