Adaptation Potential of Low Chill Peach Varieties to Inter-annual Climatic Variability in the Lower Shiwalik Himalayas

Fruit tree production is a mid to long term investment in which only few adjustments can be done once the crop has become established. Targeting of existing varieties for expected climatic variability is therefore critical for any fruit grower. In the current studies inter-annual variability in climatic variables has been desired to be confirmed with its potential impact on variation in the phenological, production and quality traits of peach germplasm grown under the subtropical Himalayan eco-system. Different meteorological variables were monitored and behaviour of ten peach varieties were studied for their date of first bloom, full bloom fruit maturity, yield and fruit quality parameters during the years 2006–07 to 2012–13. Higher inter-annual variability in climatic variables has been confirmed together with the variation in the phenological traits. Yield and fruit quality performance of these varieties has also been evaluated. The resilience potential of varieites to climate change was ranked (in decresing order) as: Early Grande> Shan-i-Punjab> Pratap> Florida Prince> May Fire.

Ten low chill requiring peach varieties were evaluated

Dispersion in phenological attributes of different peach varieties has been quantified w.r.t the inter-annual meteorological changes

Significant changes in yield and fruit quality parameters have also been studied

Adaptation score of different varieties for changing climatic conditions has been worked out

The varieties having resilience potential for the changing climatic conditions have been identified