The cross-breeding performances of some peach varieties [Bazı Şeftali Çeşitlerinin melezleme performansları]

In Turkey, peach breeding activities are quite inadequate. Only one breeding program to develop new peach varieties for fresh market and processing by controlled hybridization has been carried out in Ataturk Central Horticultural Research Institute. The present study was performed to evaluate fruit set rate, and a number of harvested fruit and stratified seed and germinated seed and seedling for each combinations and to determine the best parents to use in future crosses. Forty-two controlled crosses between ten peach varieties were made during 2008 and 2009 and total 32,922 flowers were pollinated. The full ripening fruits were harvested and hybrid seeds extracted. These seeds were stratified without endocarp at 4-5 °C for 40-90 days. The resulted seedlings were planted in an experimental orchard. Some problems including embryo and seed abortions, rosetting, multiple pistil and fungal infection occurred on fruits, trees and seedlings in the different developmental stages. The rates of fruit set were determined to be 78.27% and 73.10% for two years, respectively. Total 3,461 fruits were harvested and 2,730 seeds were stratified. The number of germinated seeds and resulted seedlings were 2,451 and 2,144, respectively. Our results showed that hybrid seeds should be stratified immediately after harvest to shorten breeding period and also stratification without endocarp can be lead the rosetting seedlings. Moreover, fluctuating temperature, not even frost, can cause to embryo abortions. Bayramic Tüysüzü, Sarı Papa, Vivian and Fortuna should be suggested as parent to obtain a large number of hybrid plants in a peach breeding program. © 2016, Centenary University. All rights reserved