Variability of peach cultivars for growth, yield and fruit quality traits

The aim of this study was assessment of variability among fifteen peach cultivars. The evaluation was carried out at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2014–2016 and several morphological and biochemical characters were recorded. Tree height ranged between 1.28 m (Suncrest) and 3.78 m (Shan-i-Punjab).Trunk girth was maximum in Flordaprince and minimum in Saharanpur Prabhat. Tree yield per plant varied from 4.50 kg (Early Redhaven) to 10.83 kg (Saharanpur Prabhat) and yield efficiency from 0.18% (Early Redhaven) to 0.54% (Pratap), respectively. Paradelux recorded maximum inter-nodal length whereas, July Elberta recorded minimum. Fruit length was maximum in Early Redhaven (53.69 mm) and minimum (37.37 mm) in Saharanpur Prabhat, whereas, fruit breadth was maximum (54.38 mm) in Flordaprince and minimum (42.62 mm) in July Elberta. The TSS content in fruits ranged between 8.65⁰B to 13.02⁰B. The variability observed in these genotypes excelling in one or more horticulturally desirable characters can further be utilized for the genetic improvement of peach genotypes.