Breeding report of a new mid-ripening peach cultivar Xiazhicui

Abstract: Xiazhicui is a mid- ripening peach cultivar derived from the open pollination seedlings of Okubo peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch]. A total of 1870 natural seedlings of Okubo were obtained in greenhouse, and the seedlings were transplanted to the breeding nursery in May, 2002. The seedling trees started fruiting in 2004, and the botanical and economic characteristics were recorded for three consecutive years in 2005 and 200. The elite seedling numbered 01-02-118 with outstanding comprehensive characters was selected as promising strain for further evaluation in 2006. A variety comparison test and multi-site trials were conducted in Changli County, Laoting County and Xingtai City in 2007. It was named as Xiazhicui and licensed in 2021. The tree gesture of Xiazhicui is moderately vigorous and semi- open, with highly germinating and branching capability. The sunny side of the young branch is reddish-brown and the back side is yellowish green, the average branch length is 72 cm, the average internode length 2.4 cm. The flower is pink in color. The fruit shape is nearly round. The average fruit weight is 270 g, the maximum fruit weight 320 g. More than 95% of the fruit surface is covered by the hue of light red. The flesh is white with red pigment, hard-melting, crispy, and sour-sweet. The soluble solid content is 13.0%, the vitamin C content 4.86 mg·100 g^-1 . The firmness of fruit is 8.9 kg· cm-2 , the stone is free. The fruit quality is excellent. The fruits have good storage and transportation ability, the shelf is as long as 8-12 d. The fruits mature in late-mid August in Changli, Hebei province, The fruit developmental period is 115 days. The yield is stable. Ridge cultivation with“Y”shape tree form and spacing of 2 m × (3-4) m, or open heart-shape tree form with spacing of (2-3) m × (4-5) m is recommended, Xiazhicui is resistant to coldness and moderate resistant to mildew. It would be suitable for planting in peach producing areas of Beijing City, Hebei and Shandong Provinces.