Breeding report of a new loquat variety Yingxue

Abstract: Yingxue is a late- season, table loquat with excellent appearance. The seedling was derived from a cross between Ninghaibai and Jiefangzhong in 2011 at experimental field. Through artificial pollination, 450 hybrid seeds were obtained. The strain named A208 was initially selected as the superior line in 2017 for its late flowering time, strong stress resistance, large fruit, and excellent quality, and then was named Yingxue in 2018. After regional adaptability testing at three sites (including Yuhang, Haining and Lanxi) for three years from 2020 to 2022, the new variety exhibited stable comprehensive straits such as excellent stress resistance, high yield, as well as good fruit quality in various regions, and the characteristics were consistent with the performance of the mother tree. In May, 2022, it was approved by the Zhejiang Provincial Forestry Variety Certification Committee (Improved number: Zhejiang S- SV- EJ- 008- 2022). The tree was tall, vigorous with semicircular crown and open tree gesture. The young branches were densely pubescent, then glabrous, dull grey-brown in color. The leaves were lanceolate, apical acuminate and wedge-shaped leaf bases. The leaf edges were curled and sharp, with shallow serrations and moderate density. The flowering period was from early December to early January, the inflorescence was long and conical, with an average length of 9.7 cm and a width of 8.5 cm. The average number of branches was 8.5, with drooping branches and moderate tightness. The petals were yellow-white, the fruit was relative large, and late ripening. The fruit was nearly round, with light yellow surface, easy peeling. The average fruit weight was 42.0 g, and the maximum fruit weight was 58.5 g. The average number of seeds per fruit was 4.8 and the average weight of seeds per fruit was 7.8 g. The flesh was milky white, with moderate hardness, medium juice, and a pleasant sour and sweet taste. The content of soluble solid was 14.5%, the content of total sugar was 13.5%, the content of reducing sugarwas 13.4%, the content of titratable acid was 0.35%, the content of vitamin C was 13.3 mg·g^-1 , and the edible rate was 71.2%. The quality is excellent. The fruit matured in early June in Haining, Jiaxing area, the number of flowers was 69 per inflorescence. The branching ability was strong. It was resistant to frost, cork, fruit cracking, and sunburning. The cold storage life of fruit was 1 month and shelf life was over 7 days. The suitable cultivation areas would be Zhejiang Province and surrounding loquat producing areas. This variety could bear fruits three years after grafting, and had high yield potential and high commercial fruit rate. Orchards should choose mountainous or flat areas with an average annual temperature over 15 ℃ and a minimum temperature not lower than -9 ℃. Sandy soil was preferred, the spacing would be 4 m×4 m. The evacuation layered tree type would be recommended, and the tree height should be controled within 3.0 meters.