Breeding report of a new loquat cultivar Huiyu 1

Abstract: Huiyu 1 is a new loquat cultivar selected from the seedlings of Baihua. Since 1991, the investigation, collection and breeding of new varieties of Santan loquat in Anhui province have been carried out, and nearly 20 strains have been discovered and collected successively. Huiyu 1 (the original number 77-06) showed the traits of early ripening, large fruit, good appearance and other excellent characteristics. It was officially identified as the superior line. A regional test was carried out from 2011 to 2017 in Anhui province, which showed that the botanical characters, biological properties and fruit quality were consistent, stable performance reference to the method of literature standard. And the phenological period, growth and fruiting habits, fruit economic characters of Huiyu 1 were systematically studied in comparison with Baihua loquat. The results showed the fruit is obovate with an average weight of 40.86 g, 1.5 folds that of Baihua. The leaves of Huiyu 1 loquat are obovate, serrated shallowly at the upper margin and entire at lower margin, acuminate at base, with white fuzz on the back. The new shoots are medium green, and old branches are gray-white. The plant has an average of 151 flowers per inflorescence with about 10 branches, and the flowers are small with 5 petals and tawny calyx. The pale yellow peel is thin with much fruit powder and can be easily separated from the flesh. The milk-white flesh is tender in texture and has better flavor, sweet and juicy. The fruit has an average of 4.4 seeds in pale brown color. The flesh recovery is 69.47% and the content of soluble solids 16.23% . In Shexian area of Anhui, blooming begins in late October, peaks in late November, and ends in early January, and fruit mature from the end of May to the early June with a harvest period of 7 days earlier than Baihua loquat. With excellent quality, the fruit possesses the characteristics of anti- sunburn and cracking resistance. In the fourth year after planting, the yield of grafted trees reaches over 10 kg per plant. It is suitable for production in mild and humid areas with abundant rainfall, such as the mountainous areas of south Anhui. The suitable planting density of this variety is（1.5-4.0）m between plants and（2.5-5.5）m between rows. The fertilization is better with mainly organic fertilizer, combined with suitable amounts of macro-, medium-, and trace- elements. Plant diseases and insect pests should be well controlled during the growing season. SSR molecular identification showed that the DNA of Huiyu 1 was significantly different from that of Baihua. It was certified by the Crop Variety Identification Committee of Anhui Horticultural Society in January 2019, and was officially named as Huiyu 1.