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2 UMMAR everal peach varieties performed satisfactorily in tests at the Wiregrass ubstation, Headland. Those best adapted for commercial production in that area were pringcrest, pringold, Maygold, entinel, LaGold, Keystone, Winblo, and Redskin. None of the nectarine varieties evaluated was suitable for commercial production. Lexington, Pocahontas, and Caliver are nectarine varieties with some potential for home use. Information contained herein is available to all persons regardless of race, color, or national origin. FIRT PRINTING 4M, JUNE

3 Performance of Peach and Nectarine Varieties in the Wiregrass Area of Alabama W. A. DOZIER, JR., J. G. TARLING, H. W. IVE, and O. N. FARRIOR* PEACHE AND NECTARINE are potentially valuable crops for the Wiregrass Area of Alabama. This region has the natural advantage of being free of spring frost in most years, a time when most peach producing areas are subject to frost damage during or just after bloom. The potential for production of peaches for both fresh market and processing is unlimited in this area of the tate if the proper varieties are grown. Varieties should be chosen on the basis of their intended use and performance in this area. DECRIPTION OF PROJECT A variety evaluation planting was established at the Wiregrass ubstation, Headland, in the spring of to identify varieties suited to the area. The planting included varieties of peaches and varieties of nectarines. The peach varieties were planted in six groups and the nectarines in two groups according to ripening dates. Three trees of each variety were planted in a randomized complete block design in each ripening group. All varieties planted were on Lovell rootstock. Tree spacing was by feet. Prior to planting lime, phosphorous, and potassium were broadcast and incorporated into the soil according to soil test recommendation. The nutritional program in subsequent years also followed soil test recommendations, with adjustments made in nitrogen application based on vegetative growth. For nematode control, Dasanit was broadcast and double disked into the top inches of soil prior to planting at *Respectively, Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture, and uperintendent, Associate uperintendent, and Research Associate, Wiregrass ubstation.

4 the rate of. pounds of percent granules per acre. Recommended practices were followed for insect and disease control. Paraquat and simazine were used for weed control in the rows, and middles were mowed.fruit on all varieties were hand thinned in,, and. Dates of full bloom and first harvest were recorded for each variety. The rating systems used in all tables are as follows: skin color, fruit firmness, and stone freeness- = poor, = excellent; for flesh color -y = yellow, w = white; for dessert quality-i, = acid,,4 = sub-acid,, = astringent. Fruit size was obtained by measuring representative fruit of each variety at each harvest date. ield data presented are the average for three trees of each variety. Ratings of damage from bacterial leaf spot were estimated, using the following rating system: Rating, number-class Leaves with Defoliation, bacterial spot, pct. pct. none none none trace none slight moderate severe very severe Incidence of bacterial fruit spot was rated as none, light, moderate, or severe. REULT The orchard was set in March, and all trees grew vigorously the first season. In the spring of 4 and, some varieties did not leaf out and bloom until May and June due to insufficient chilling during the dormant season, table. In each season, once bud break occurred, all varieties grew vigorously. A few scattered fruit were produced in 4, but yield was not sufficient for yield data to be recorded. All varieties bloomed heavily in the spring of ; however, fruit set and production varied from no crop to only a light crop, table. Good crops were produced in,, and, tables, 4, and, and all varieties required thinning. Peach Variety Performance evere incidence of bacterial leaf spot and bacterial fruit spot occurred in and, tables and 4. Many varieties [4]

5 TABLE. BUD BREAK IN THE PRING OF 4 AND, FOLLOWING WINTER OF INUFFICIENT CHILLING Variety 4 Peach pringold... pringcrest... pringbrite... Camden... poor (blind woodvigorous new growth Candor Maygold... Redcap...poor (blind wood) Rubired... poor (blind wood) Coronet... very poor (blind wood) entinel... Whynot... uwannee... LaGold... Keystone... Washington... unhigh... poor (blind wood) outhland... McNelly... very poor Winblo...poor (blind wood) Milan Mountaingold... very poor Madison... very poor Piedmontgold... very poor uincling... very poor Redskin... poor (blind wood) Monroe... poor (blind wood) Nectarine Pocahontas... Cherokee... Nectared-... Nectared-4... Lexington... poor (blind wood) Caliver... Bud break that performed well in other respects were severely defoliated by bacterial leaf spot. In some cases the fruit was severely damaged and rendered unsalable by bacterial fruit spot. Varieties that were unaffected or only slightly affected by bacterial leaf spot in both or were Redcap, Rubired, entinel, Whynot, LaGold, Keystone, Winblo, and Redskin. Bacterial leaf spot was severe on pringold, pringcrest, pringbrite, Candor, Coronet, uwannee, Washington, unhigh, outhland, McNelley, Milan, Mountaingold, Madison, Piedmontgold, and uncling. Defoliation due to bacterial leaf spot did not occur until the first week in June in either season. Varieties that were severely affected by bacterial fruit spot were uwannee, Washington, unhigh, outhland, Mi- []

6 TABLE. RATING OF PEACH PERFORMANCE, WIREGRA UBTATION Date Date of Fruit kin Flesh tone Dessert ield, Flesh Bacterial Degree of Variety of full first size, color firmness freeness quality lb./tree color eaf spot bacterial bloom harvest in. severity fruit spot pringcrest im pringbrite pringold Camden Maygold... Redcap Candor E entinel b Whynot... - no fruit Coronet LaGold... -$ uwannee unhigh Rubired outhland McNelley... - no fruit Keystone Washington... - no fruit Winblo Milan Mountaingold Madison... - no fruit Piedmontgold... - no fruit uncling... - no fruit Redskin Monroe... - no fruit

7 TABLE. RATING OF PEACH VARIET PERFORMANCE, WIREGRA UBTATION Date Date of Fruit kin Flesh tone Dessert ield, Flesh Bacterial Degree of Variety of full first size, color firmness freeness quality lb./tree color leaf spot bacterial bloom harvest in. severity fruit spot pringold...- pringcrest...- pringbrite...- Camden...- Candor...- Maygold...- Redcap...- Rubired...- Coronet... entinel Whynot... uwannee...- LaGold... - Keystone... - Washington... unhigh... - outhland... - McNelley... - Winblo... - Milan... - Mountaingold... - Madison... - Piedmontgold... - uncling... - Redskin... - Monroe... no data ,, ~ I~ II\ L L M

8 TABLE 4. RATING OF PEACH PERFORMANCE, WIREGRA UBTATION Date Date of Fruit kin Flesh tone Dessert ield Flesh Bacterial Degree of Variety of full first size, color firmness freeness quality lb/tree color severity fruit spot pringold L pringcrest L Camden pringbrite L Candor Maygold Redcap Coronet Rubired LaGold entinel Keystone Washington McNelley Whynot uwannee unhigh Winblow Mountaingold Piedmontgold outhland Milan... uncling M Madison Redskin Monroe

9 lan, uncling, Madison, Mountaingold, and Piedmontgold. In, the early ripening varieties were harvested before any bacterial fruit spot was evident in the orchard. Coronet and entinel, harvested on May, were the first varieties that exhibited bacterial fruit spot damage. In, pringold, pringcrest, and pringbrite, which were some of the first varieties to be harvested, had a light incidence of bacterial fruit spot. Fruit was generally harvested later than the early stage of ripeness suitable for commercial shipment. Therefore, fruit firmness data are lower than ly expected for most varieties. Varieties That Performed Best The following peach varieties performed best for commercial production in Wiregrass ubstation tests. The average performance of each is presented in table. pringcrest, (Fireglow x Hiley) x Fireglow x pring Time, was tested as F. V. - and introduced in by the UDA Horticultural Field tation, Fort Valley, Georgia. pringcrest ripens about days before Elberta. The fruit is round with non-prominent suture and tip, medium size, clingstone, and has a short medium-heavy pubescence. The attractive fruit has a dark red blush on percent of the surface, with a bright yellow undercolor. The flesh is yellow, firm but melting, fine in texture, subacid, and medium in quality for an early peach. Trees of pringcrest are vigorous, self-fertile, and medium in productivity. The variety has a chilling requirement of hours below 4 F. pringcrest is a highly colored, goodquality, large sized peach, and has less split pits than.most varieties in its season. pringold, F. V. -4 x Fireglow x pringtime, was tested as F. V. -4 and introduced in by the UDA Horticultural Field tation, Fort Valley, Georgia. pringold ripens about days before Elberta. The fruit is ovate with a prominent suture and slight tip, small, clingstone, and has medium pubescence. About percent of the fruit surface is covered with a bright, attractive, red blush over a yellow ground color. The flesh is yellow, firm but melting, medium in texture, and good in flavor for an early peach. Trees of pringold are selffertile, vigorous, productive, and moderately resistant to bacterial leaf spot. Chilling requirement is about hours below 4 F. []

10 Maygold, unhigh x outhland, was tested as F. V. - and was introduced by the UDA Field tation, Fort Valley, Georgia, in. Maygold ripens about days before Elberta. The fruit has a round-ovate shape, non-prominent suture and tip, very light pubescence, and is medium in size and a clingstone. About percent of the fruit surface is covered with a dark red overcolor and has a fair yellow undercolor. The flesh is yellow, of good quality, firm but melting, and medium in texture. Trees of Maygold are vigorous, self-fertile, and highly productive. The fruit is below average for the season for canning, pickling, and freezing. Its chilling requirement is hours below 4 F. entinel, F. V. - x Dixigem, was formerly tested as F. V. -4. It was introduced in by the UDA Horticultural Field tation, Fort Valley, Georgia. entinel ripens about 4 days before Elberta, producing fruit that is round, medium sized, freestone when fully matured, and medium in pubescence. At maturity, about percent of the surface is covered with a red blush over a yellow ground color. The flesh is yellow, firm but melting, and of good flavor and texture. Trees of entinel are vigorous, productive, and self-fertile, with good resistance to bacterial spot disease. Its chilling requirement is about hours below 4 F. LaGold, open pollinated Redhaven seedling, was tested as L. -- and introduced in by the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment tation, Calhoun, Louisiana. LaGold ripens about days before Elberta. The fruit is oval in shape, with non-prominent suture and tip, medium-to-medium-large size, freestone, and has medium pubescence. The fruit is attractive and has a yellow undercolor with a red blush covering percent of the fruit surface. The flesh is yellow with a small amount of red pigment near the pit, firm, melting, fine textured, and of good quality. Trees of LaGold are vigorous, productive, self fertile, and resistant to bacterial leaf spot. It has a chilling requirement of - hours below 4 F. Keystone, Newday x outhland, was tested as F. V. - and introduced in 4 by the UDA Horticultural Field tation, Fort Valley, Georgia. Keystone ripens about days before Elberta. Its fruit is round with non-prominent suture and tip, self fertile, medium-to-large, freestone, and has very light pubescence. Keystone's attractive fruit have a bright yellow undercolor and a bright red blush and stripe overcolor covering percent of the surface. The flesh is of good quality, [

11 TABLE. RATING OF PEACH VARIET PERFORMANCE, WIREGRA UBTATION Date Date of Fruit kin Flesh tone Dessert ield, Flesh Bacterial Degree of Variety of full first size, color firmness freeness quality lb./tree color leaf spot bacterial bloom harvest in. severity fruit spot pringold pringcrest...-4 Camden...-4 pringbrite...-4 Candor...-4 Redcap...- Rubired...- Maygold... - Coronet...-4 entinel...- Whynot... - LaGold...-4 Keystone...-4 Washington... - uwannee...- unhigh...-4 Winblo...- McNelley... - outhland...-4 Piedmontgold... - Milan...-4 Mountaingold... - uncling Madison... - Redskin...- Monroe I I CI~~ ~TTr~~ ~ ( I -I I~ I tot O C

12 TABLE. AVERAGE RATING OF THE BET PERFORMING PEACH VARIETIE, WIREGRA UBTATION Date Date of FruitAvrg - average Variety of full first size, kin Flesh tone Dessert Average Flesh Bacterial Bacterial bloom harvest in. color firmness freeness quality lb,/tre color leaf spot fruit spot pringcrest L pringold L Maygold entinel LaGold Keystone L Winblo Redskin

13 firm, melting, and yellow with red at pit. Although trees of the variety are vigorous, productivity varies from low to high. Keystone is a good canning and freezing variety, having flesh that is highly resistant to browning. It is less susceptible to bacterial leaf spot than Elberta. Chilling requirement of Keystone is hours below 4 F. Winblo, Redhaven x Dixiered, was introduced by the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment tation, Raleigh, North Carolina. Winblo ripens about 4 days before Elberta. The fruit is round, medium to large, and freestone. The flesh is yellow, fine flavored, high quality, moderately firm, and nonbrowning. Winblo has a yellow undercolor and a bright red blush over percent of the fruit surface. The trees are vigorous, productive, and tolerant to bacterial leaf spot. Its chilling requirement is - hours below 4 F. Redskin, J. H. Hale x Elberta, was introduced in 44 by the Maryland Agricultural Experiment tation. Ripening date is - days before Elberta. The fruit is round with a prominent suture and light pubescence, attractive, yellow fleshed, of good color and quality, freestone, firm, and of large size when properly thinned. In some years a rough suture will develop. The trees are self-fertile, vigorous, and productive. Blossoms tend to set fruit each year. Redskin is moderately resistant to bacterial leaf spot. It has a chilling requirement of about hours below 4 F. Nectarine Variety Performance None of the nectarine varieties evaluated was suitable for commercial production, table. Cherokee, Nectared-4, and Nectared- were defoliated by bacterial leaf spot. Their fruit were severely damaged by bacterial fruit spot and also split badly. Lexington, Pocahontas, and Caliver would probably be satisfactory for home use. The fruit of these three nectarine varieties were small. Lexington was the highest producing nectarine variety. It set large crops and required heavy thinning. In addition to being small, fruit of Lexington are soft and white fleshed. Pocahontas and Caliver are both yellow fleshed varieties and productive. Average performance of the three best nectarines is given in table. ince this evaluation planting was established, additional varieties having potential for this area have been released. The newer varieties will be evaluated at the Wiregrass ubstation. []

14 TABLE. RATING OF NECTARINE VARIET PERFORMANCE, WIREGRA UBTATION, - Date Date of Fruit kin Flesh tone Dessert ield, Flesh Bacterial Degree of of full first size, clr frns rees qaiy l/re clrleaf spot bacterial bloom harvest in. clrfrns rees qaiy l:te oo severity fruit spot I~DLflr i. I~KlllV~ V~ ILlr~lll~ll~r VllZ\ I ~JL\rV~IVL~I~~. VVLI Pocahontas... - no fruit - - Cherokee... Nectared no fruit Nectared no fruit - - Lexington Caliver Pocahontas Cherokee Nectared , Nectared c. Lexington Caliver Pocahontas Nectared Caliver Cherokee Nectared Lexington Pocahontas Cherokee Lexington Nectared Nectared Caliver 'Al Variety fruit split W W W 4... W.4.. L i M L s L

15 Variety TABLE. AVERAGE RATING OF THE BET PERFORMING NECTARINE VARIETIE, WIREGRA UBTATION Dae Dt f Fut kin Flesh tn Desr AverageFls - average of full first size, color firmness ftnreeness qualit yield, clorh Bacterial Bacterial bloom harvest in.qult lb./tree cor leaf spot fruit spot Pocahontas L Lexington... - Caliver W..

16 AUBURN UNIVERIT ~ith aln agric-ulrural research unit inl evefv' nlaic~ol'sorl al ea, Q )i A ubu rn t'n ixersitxst n s selx es the cteds ofi field crop, liv estock. fotrestry, xtfd hoirticulhural producers in each region in Alabama. Exvery citi- / r i Zen of the tate has a stake in this research program, since anx advantage from new artd nd more eccono m ical xxa! s of prdc-l cj ing and handling flrm products directlx benefits the consuming public. -Cn i Main Agricultural Experiment tation, Auburn. E. V. mith Research Center, horter.. Tennessee Valley ubstation, Belle Mina.. and Mountain ubstation, Crossville. North Alabama Horticulture ubstation, Cullman 4. Upper Coastal Plain ubstation, Winfield. Forestry Unit. Fayette County. Foundation eed tocks Farm, Thorsby. Chilton Area Horticulture ubstation, Clanton.. Forestry Unit, Coosa County. Piedmont ubstation, Camp Hill.. Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee Forestry Unit, Autauga County. Prattville Esperiment Field, Prattville. Black Belt ubstation, Marion Junction 4 The Turnipseed-Ikenberry Place, Union prings Lower Coastal Plain ubstation, Camden. Forestry Unit, Barbour County. Monroeville Experiment Field, Monroeville. Wiregrass ubstation, Headland Brewton Experiment Field. Brewton. olon Dixon Forestry Education Center. Covington and Escambia counties Ornamental Horticulture Field tation, pring Hill.. Gulf Coast ubstation, Fairhope