Progress of collection, conservation and innovative utilization of peach resources in the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository (Beijing)

The peach belongs to the genus Amygdalus persica L. within the Rosaceae Juss. family, originated from the northwestern regions of China, specifically Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. It is one of the most ancient fruit crops in China. As the birthplace and a major producer of peaches, China has developed an exceptionally rich resource base through long-term evolution and cultivation, providing significant material support for the development of the peach industry in the country. The abundant peach germplasm resources provide a crucial material foundation for peach breeding and industry development in the country. The National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository (Beijing) is one of the earliest units to collect, preserve and identify peach germplasm resources in China. The Institute of Forestry and Pomology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Beijing Institute of Forestry and Pomology) initiated the investigation and collection of peach variety resources both domestically and internationally in 1974, establishing a primary peach germplasm re-pository. Subsequently, the institute participated in the survey of yellow-fleshed canning peach resources in the northwest region organized by the Ministry of Light Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, uncovering the number of valuable germplasm resources for collection and preservation. A batch of domestic variety resources was also collected from Hebei, Shandong, Liaoning, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces. Meanwhile, a series of foreign peach varieties were introduced through delegations from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Light Industry, and Beijing Municipality. In 1981, the institute undertook the task assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to establish the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository (Beijing). Since then, in accordance with the requirements for a germplasm repository, the scope of collected and preserved materials has expanded from cultivated varieties to wild species and related species with potential value that have not been utilized or improved, local varieties with specific traits, cultivated varieties, as well as bred superior lines and mutant types, thereby initiating research work on germplasm resources. By December 2024, the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository (Beijing) had collected and preserved above five hundred peach germplasm resources. The germplasm repository systematically preserves a variety of peach germplasm resources of significant value, including traditional local varieties and wild peach resources from various regions. Additionally, the repository places a special emphasis on collecting rare germplasms such as endangered resources and the cold-resistant Hunchun peach. In terms of international germplasm resources, the repository has introduced low-chilling varieties from foreign countries such as Thailand, Brazil, and the United States, as well as the French rootstock GF677, which is resistant to replanting disease. Furthermore, the repository houses a rich collection of ornamental peach varieties. Relying on the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository (Beijing), the Institute of Forestry and Pomology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, initiated hybrid combinations in 1981, embarking on the hybrid breeding of peaches and nectarines. This effort led to the selection and breeding of a series of new peach and nectarine varieties characterized by superior quality, a range of maturity periods from early to late, and suitability for cultivation in China, which were subsequently demonstrated and promoted in production. Concurrently, with the diversification of fruit consumption among the populace, the flat peach, a distinct type of peach known for its sweetness and flat shape, has gradually evolved into a significant type favored by consumers. Traditional flat peach resources are relatively scarce compared to common peach types, numbering only a dozen or so. These variety resources are plagued by weaknesses such as poor fruit coloration, susceptibility to cracking at the apex, easy skin tearing at the stem, poor storage and transport tolerance, and unstable yields. The production sector lacks flat peach varieties that simultaneously offer deliciousness, aesthetic appeal, storage and transport tolerance, and a range of maturity periods, thereby constraining the development of the flat peach industry. Building on the foundation of resource collection, China embarked on exploratory flat peach breeding research in the 1970s. In 1985, the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences and other research institutions initiated systematic flat peach breeding programs. By 1996, the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences had further prioritized flat peach breeding as a key direction. The breeding team set objectives to overcome issues such as apex cracking and stem-end splitting, aiming for large, red, sweet, firm, clingstone fruits with a range of maturity periods, leading to the selection and breeding of a series of high- quality flat peach varieties. Meanwhile, the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository (Beijing) provides various germplasm resources to universities, research institutes, and other organizations across the country, promoting foundational research on peach origins, molecular markers, quality, disease resistance, and more,thereby offering theoretical support for the advancement of the peach industry. This paper provides an overview of the development of the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository (Beijing), reviews the collection and preservation status of peach germplasm resources over the past fifty years, and summarizes the progress made in the innovative utilization of peach germplasm resources. Additionally, it outlines future research directions, aiming to offer valuable reference information for the efficient utilization of peach germplasm resources and the development of the peach industry in China.