INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Taxonomical details

Order = Rosales
Family = Rosaceae
Sub-family = Prunoideae
Genus = Prunus
Sub genus = Amygdalus
Species = persica
Basic chromosome = 8
Somatic number =16 		6.1

Introduction:
  • Peach along with its smooth-skin mutant, the nectarine, is a temperate juicy fruit of excellent appearance and quality.
  • It comes to the market early in the season, particularly the low chilling peaches and growers get remunerative prices due to non availability of other fresh fruits in the market.
  • It has high nutritive value being rich in protein, essentials amino acids, minerals and vitamins.
  • Peaches originated in China, where its culture dates back to 3000 years. Although it is not exactly known that how and when the peach reached in India but it is opined that some traders might have carried over the stones of peaches from China to Kashmir.
  • Peaches were introduced by Mr. Alexander Coutts in Himachal Pradesh in 1870. Later on, its cultivation was initiated in mid hills of Himachal Pradesh on the advice of an American Horticulturist Prof. R W Hodgson.
  • Some low chilling varieties of peach were also introduced at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 1968 from California.
AREA AND PRODUCTION
  • Peach is basically a temperate zone plant and its commercial production is confined between the latitude of 30 and 40° N and S, although it is now grown almost all over the world.
  • The major peach producing countries are Italy, USA, Spain, China, France, Greece and Japan.
  • In India, peach is grown on a commercial scale in mid hills of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, as well as in a limited scale in north-eastern states.
  • In Himachal Pradesh, peaches are commercially grown in Rajgarh area of District Sirmour, which is also known as peach bowl of India.
  • Low chill varieties of peaches are commercially grown in Punjab, Haryana and Eastern U.P.
  • In India , peach occupies an area of 35531 hectares with a total production of 237921 MT ( FAO,2010-11). In Himachal Pradesh the area under this fruit is 5195 ha and production is 5162 MT (Annon. 2010).
Morphological characters of plant:
  • Peach is a small to medium sized upright spreading, open topped deciduous tree.
  • The trunk bark is dark brown, rough and young shoots are smooth and pinkish in colour.
  • The leaves are simple, large, oblong lanceolate, glabrous above, pubescent beneath.
  • Vegetative and flower buds are borne in the axil of leaves.
  • Flower are numerous, sessile, white or pink appearing before leaves.
  • The flower is of perigynous type as the perianth surrounds the pistil but is not fused to it.
  • The floral configuration is : five sepals, five petals, 30 stamens and single ovary.
  • Fruits are fuzzy with free or cling stone, however, the nectarines are fuzzless peaches.

6.2

Climate and Soil
  • Peaches require humid climate with cold winter and dry summer.
  • It is moderately winter hardy and sensitive to low temperature injury. Swelling buds are injured at -6.5°C.
  • Sites free from early spring frost are more suitable as peaches bloom early in the season.
  • Peach needs about 500 to 800 hours of chilling during winter to break bud dormancy.
  • Chilling requirement is easily met in areas located between 900 to 1600 m above mean sea level.
  • There are some low chilling varieties, which require 250 to 300 chilling hours. These varieties are grown successfully in sub-montane tracts of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Jammu., where summer temperature reaches 45 oC with very low humidity.
  • The limiting factors in peach cultivation are the minimum winter temperature, chilling hours, spring frosts, hailstorms, high humidity and desiccating winds during summer.
  • Deep sandy loam soil rich in organic matter is best for its successful cultivation.
  • Peaches are highly susceptible to water logging and prefer perfect drainage.
  • The pH of the soil should be between 5.8 and 6.8.
VARIETIES
  • Peaches are used for table as well as for canning purposes.
  • The choice of suitable varieties for any region depends up on the type of market to be served and adaptability to the local soil and climatic conditions.
  • The varieties used for table purposes should be yellow fleshed, freestone and relatively free from fuzz.
  • For canning purpose,the fruits should have yellow flesh, clingstone, non splitting pit, good symmetrical size.

6.1t

6.3
Last modified: Tuesday, 26 June 2012, 8:57 PM