Nectarine, a botanical variety of peach, is cultivated in peach growing regions worldwide. In India, its cultivation is primarily limited to the North-Western and North-Eastern Himalayas. Despite the subtropical conditions offering significant potential for nectarine cultivation, the availability of varieties remains limited. In the current study, seven new nectarine genotypes from a low-chill peach breeding program were evaluated for reproductive traits, fruit size, and quality and compared with a check variety, ‘Punjab Nectarine’. In 2023 and 2024, most genotypes exhibited moderate flower density, ideal for optimal fruit set. The highest flowers per node were observed in ‘Punjab Nectarine’ and ‘A26’. Fruit set was generally higher than ‘Punjab Nectarine’, except in ‘A36’. Maturity varied across years, with ‘A39’ ripening first in 2023 and both ‘A39’ and ‘A32’ in 2024. Most genotypes had an extended fruit development period (FDP) in 2024, requiring lower growing degree days (GDD) than ‘Punjab Nectarine’, except for ‘A26’, which had the highest GDD requirement. Fruit shape ranged from round to ovate, with most lacking a fruit tip except for ‘A36’ and ‘Punjab Nectarine’. ‘A39’ exhibited the highest fruit weight, surpassing ‘Punjab Nectarine’ by 46.98% (2023) and 48.73% (2024), followed closely by ‘A13’ and ‘A1’. Most genotypes had larger fruit in 2024 due to extended FDP and increased GDD accumulation. ‘A1’ recorded the highest flesh firmness in both years (11.8 lbs and 11.6 lbs). Total soluble solids (TSS) was higher in most genotypes than in ‘Punjab Nectarine’. Among sugars, ‘A39’ had the highest fructose and sucrose, while ‘A13’ had highest glucose. Citric acid peaked in ‘A1’ and ‘A32’, while malic acid was lowest in these genotypes. Nutrient analysis showed ‘A1’ had the highest nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn) levels, while ‘A39’ and ‘A13’ excelled in phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe), respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified ‘A39’ and ‘A1’ as ideal for commercial production due to their superior fruit weight, size and firmness. White-fleshed genotypes (‘A26’ and ‘A39’) had elevated fructose, total sugar, and reducing sugars, contributing to sweetness. ‘A1’ and ‘A13’ were associated with high citric acid, glucose, and antioxidants, while ‘A36’ stood out for high ascorbic and malic acid content. Overall, ‘A39’, ‘A1’, and ‘A13’ emerged as the most promising genotypes for commercial cultivation due to their superior fruit weight, size, firmness and quality attributes.

Variability in Reproductive Traits, Fruit Size, Quality and Biochemical Attributes of Low-Chill Nectarines

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2025年8月12日

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Kulwant Singh,
Anirudh Thakur,
Harminder Singh,
S. K. Jawandha

摘要

Nectarine, a botanical variety of peach, is cultivated in peach growing regions worldwide. In India, its cultivation is primarily limited to the North-Western and North-Eastern Himalayas. Despite the subtropical conditions offering significant potential for nectarine cultivation, the availability of varieties remains limited. In the current study, seven new nectarine genotypes from a low-chill peach breeding program were evaluated for reproductive traits, fruit size, and quality and compared with a check variety, ‘Punjab Nectarine’. In 2023 and 2024, most genotypes exhibited moderate flower density, ideal for optimal fruit set. The highest flowers per node were observed in ‘Punjab Nectarine’ and ‘A₂₆’. Fruit set was generally higher than ‘Punjab Nectarine’, except in ‘A₃₆’. Maturity varied across years, with ‘A₃₉’ ripening first in 2023 and both ‘A₃₉’ and ‘A₃₂’ in 2024. Most genotypes had an extended fruit development period (FDP) in 2024, requiring lower growing degree days (GDD) than ‘Punjab Nectarine’, except for ‘A₂₆’, which had the highest GDD requirement. Fruit shape ranged from round to ovate, with most lacking a fruit tip except for ‘A₃₆’ and ‘Punjab Nectarine’. ‘A₃₉’ exhibited the highest fruit weight, surpassing ‘Punjab Nectarine’ by 46.98% (2023) and 48.73% (2024), followed closely by ‘A₁₃’ and ‘A₁’. Most genotypes had larger fruit in 2024 due to extended FDP and increased GDD accumulation. ‘A₁’ recorded the highest flesh firmness in both years (11.8 lbs and 11.6 lbs). Total soluble solids (TSS) was higher in most genotypes than in ‘Punjab Nectarine’. Among sugars, ‘A₃₉’ had the highest fructose and sucrose, while ‘A₁₃’ had highest glucose. Citric acid peaked in ‘A₁’ and ‘A₃₂’, while malic acid was lowest in these genotypes. Nutrient analysis showed ‘A₁’ had the highest nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn) levels, while ‘A₃₉’ and ‘A₁₃’ excelled in phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe), respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified ‘A₃₉’ and ‘A₁’ as ideal for commercial production due to their superior fruit weight, size and firmness. White-fleshed genotypes (‘A₂₆’ and ‘A₃₉’) had elevated fructose, total sugar, and reducing sugars, contributing to sweetness. ‘A₁’ and ‘A₁₃’ were associated with high citric acid, glucose, and antioxidants, while ‘A₃₆’ stood out for high ascorbic and malic acid content. Overall, ‘A₃₉’, ‘A₁’, and ‘A₁₃’ emerged as the most promising genotypes for commercial cultivation due to their superior fruit weight, size, firmness and quality attributes.