Breeding report of a new late-maturing loquat cultivar ‘Qianxing'

Abstract: ‘Qianxing'is a new late-maturing loquat cultivar which is derived from the cross of‘Da Wuxing'בYingzhi'in 2006 at experimental field. In the autumn of 1996, The parents was initially selected :‘Dawuxing'(Sichuan germplasm) is an opened, structured, early fruit, good dependable crop, late-maturing female parent and‘Yingzhi'(Zhejiang germplasm) is an opened, strong resistance, good stability,late-maturing male parent. After artificial hybridization pollination, hybrid seeds was got. After regional adaptability testing at four sites(including Wudang district of Guiyang city, Xingyi city of Qianxinan Buyei and Miao autonomous prefecture, Taijiang county of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture) over 14 years from 1997 to 2010, it was finally selected in 1996. This species is a dwarfing tree,attaining a height of 2.40 m; the tree is vigorous with ramose crown and open tree gesture. The branches are robust and have a moderate number, the length of the central branch is 12.90 cm, and the diameter is0.87 cm; the lateral branch length is 12.90 cm, width is 0.87 cm; Young branches are densely pubescent,then glabrous, dull grey-brown in color. Leaves is long obovate, acuminate, 20.23 cm long, 6.07 cm wide,sharply serrated. Flower is white, 14.50 cm long, 11.20 cm wide, pedicel villous. Fruit is mainly oval.Fruit handle end is round, fruit top is flat. Sepals are persistent, calyx pore is opened, the base of calyx tube is wide and shallow depth in a regular star. the fruit has orange background. Its flesh is orange, soft fleshy, rich juice, fine texture and aroma, flesh thickness is 11.30 mm. Powder thin, bright and beautiful.The average fruit weight is 60.6 g, maximum fruit weight is 116.0 g, fruit shape index is 1.06; each fruit containing 2-4 seeds. The edible rate is 78.70%, the content of soluble solid, total sugar, titration acid is13.50%, 8.12% and 0.49%, respectively. The vitamin C content is 97.1 mg·kg-1, the sugar-acid ratio is16.50. The quality if‘Qianxing'is excellent. The fruit growth period is about 180 d. The maturity date is mid-May in Guiyang, Guizhou province, the average number of single spike flowers is 165, and the yield of single spike is stronger. Branching ability is stronger. It is resistant to cold and middle resistant to leaf spot. Loquat fruit is not easy to store, the fruit of the untreated fruit can be stored for a half months at room temperature(80% fruit decay), but can be stored for 1.5 months at a controlled condition(temperature 1-3 ℃, relative humidity 90%-95%), the rot and dry consumption is not more than 10%. Suitable cultivation area can choose at the area below the altitude of 1 300 m in Guizhou province, with deep soil, loose soil, good drainage, adequate illumination and lighter early frost damage. Orchard should choose the slope below 30 degrees of suitable climate, deep soil deep, loose soil; high elevation flat garden should choose the sandy soil of, low ground water level, well drained, deep and loose soil. In the southwest region, the best period of colonization was between early May and mid June. 42 plants per 666.7 m² is appropriate;the annual number of fertilization is about 8, fertilization should choose decomposed dung and amount of available nitrogen fertilizer. Pruning includes pinching, cutting, thinning,bending and back spune, aiming at controlling tree size and maintaining tree vigor; flower and fruit thinning must be introduced.