Adaptation Potential of Low Chill Peach Varieties to Inter-annual Climatic Variability in the Lower Shiwalik Himalayas

Abstract

Fruit tree production is a mid to long term investment in which only few adjustments can be done once the crop has become established. Targeting of existing varieties for expected climatic variability is therefore critical for any fruit grower. In the current studies inter-annual variability in climatic variables has been desired to be confirmed with its potential impact on variation in the phenological, production and quality traits of peach germplasm grown under the subtropical Himalayan eco-system. Different meteorological variables were monitored and behaviour of ten peach varieties were studied for their date of first bloom, full bloom fruit maturity, yield and fruit quality parameters during the years 2006-07 to 2012-13. Higher inter-annual variability in climatic variables has been confirmed together with the variation in the phenological traits. Yield and fruit quality performance of these varieties has also been evaluated. The resilience potential of varieites to climate change was ranked (in decresing order) as: Early Grande> Shan-i-Punjab> Pratap> Florida Prince> May Fire. Highlights• Ten low chill requiring peach varieties were evaluated• Dispersion in phenological attributes of different peach varieties has been quantified w.r.t the inter-annual meteorological changes • Significant changes in yield and fruit quality parameters have also been studied • Adaptation score of different varieties for changing climatic conditions has been worked out • The varieties having resilience potential for the changing climatic conditions have been identified

Varietal Characteristics of Exotic Plum Cultivars under Changing Climate Scenario of North Western Himalayas

“…The variability with respect to stone adherence in different plum cultivars might be due to varietal characteristics. Similar type of variation has also been reported by other workers (Singh et al, 2011, Sharma and Verma, 2012and Tandon 2006.…”

Comparative Response of Some Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.] Accessions for Tree, Foliage and Floral Traits

“…(27 days) and the shortest in Summerglo (18 days). The similar type of variation in duration of flowering was reported by Sharma and Verma (2014), Kumar (2015) and Joshi et al (2017).…”

Using Paclobutrazol and Leaf-to-fruit-ratio as Tools for Improving Yield and Quality of Non-dwarfing High-density Peach Orchards

“…Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] is known worldwide for its wider adaptability; it originated in China about 4000 years ago, from here it spread to Persia then Europe and now has global distribution between the latitudes of 25° and 45° near and far from the equator [1,2]. It is grown commercially in the USA, Italy, France, Japan, Argentina, Australia, Mexico, Korea, West Germany, Portugal, New Zealand, Spain, Greece, South Africa, Turkey, Canada, Yugoslavia, Chile, India, Austria, and other countries.…”