Breeding report on an early ripening and high quality flat peach cultivar Zhong Pan 101

Abstract: Flat peach is a variety of Prunus persica and characterized with flat fruit shape. The production of flat peach has been restricted in very limited regions in China for a very long time, due to cracking fruit, not well-closed fruit top and so on. Some new flat peach/nectarines were released in recent 20 years, and attractive to the consumers, such as Zhongpan 11, Jinxia Youpan, and Zhongyoupan 9. These cultivars have made a great progress in their comprehensive traits, especially in fruit size, fruit cracking and fruit shape. however, early maturing cultivar is still rare. In 2011, a cross was made between Zhongyou 15 and 02-77-3. 11 seedlings were finally obtained and planted in the field in 2012. The seedlings began to flower and bear fruit in 2014. After 3 consecutive fruiting years observation, the seedling numbered 7-4-29 was selected for early ripening, perfect appearance and high fruit quality. The regional trials began in 2017. It was named as Zhong Pan 101 and authorized to release in Henan province in 2021. The fruit of Zhong Pan 101 is flat with concave fruit apex, the suture is shallow and symmetrical. The fruit size is middle to large with average fruit mass 164 g. The background color of the fruit skin is light green-yellow, and more than 90% of the fruit surface is covered with rose-red color when maturing. The fruit peel is medium in thickness and difficult to tear off. The flesh is yellow, with less anthocyanins under the pericarp at maturity and no anthocyanins near the nucleus. The flesh texture is fine, with less fiber. The fruit is melting and juicy with very good flavor. The content of soluble solids in fruit juice (w) is 13.0%-14.9%. The stone is cling. The pit is small, flat and light brown. The flower is showy with 5 pink petals. The inner wall of the calyx tube is orange yellow. It is fertile with middle to highyield. In Zhengzhou, the bud of Zhong Pan 101 breaks in late February and blooms in middle to late March. The fruit ripens in mid-June, and the fruit development period is about 80 days. The leaves begin to fall in early November, and the annual growth period is about 230 d. Zhong Pan 101 is suitable to cultivate in open field or in protected cultivation condition in Northern China.