PROGRESS AND POTENTIAL OF LOW CHILL PEACH BREEDING

Over the last 100 years, considerable work has transpired in developing peach and nectarine cultivars that are adapted to the wide range of medium and low chill environments in the world. The oldest programs are those in the USA (California, Florida and Texas), Brazil (Pelotas and Sao Paulo), and South Africa. Since then additional programs have been initiated in USA (Georgia, California), Spain, Sicily, China, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Israel, Australia, and Mexico. With the current consumer desire to have a year round supply of stone fruit, the development of commercial stone fruit production in medium and low chill areas throughout the world is increasing in importance. These new cultivars are being grown not only in subtropical zones but also under protected culture and in the tropics at a range of elevations. The current cultivars are beginning to rival the fruit quality and diversity of the traditional high chill cultivars.