Performance of some low chill peach, Prunus persica (L) Batsch germplasm accessions for fruit quality traits in Himachal Pradesh

In the present study 10 low chill peach germplasm accessions were evaluated and characterized to assess their performance for fruit quality traits under Nauni, Solan conditions of Himachal Pradesh during 2010 -2011. Maximum fruit length (56.18 mm) and fruit breadth (59.30 mm) were recorded in Flordaglo whereas minimum fruit length (36.01 mm) and fruit breadth (40.52 mm) were observed in Valle Grande. Heaviest fruits were found in Flordaglo (96.45 g) and lightest fruits were observed in ValleGrande (34.50 g). Fruit firmness varied from 1.02 kg/cm² to 1.18 kg/cm². Average stone length ranged from 23.00 mm in Valle Grande to 42.02 mm in Saharanpur Prabhat. The average breadth of stone was maximum (22.84 mm) in Flordaprince and minimum (18.14 mm) in ValleGrande. Maximum stone width was recorded in Earli Grande (18.86 mm) and minimum in Saharanpur Prabhat (13.11 mm). Maximum pulp/stone ratio (24.31) was found in Flordaglo and minimum (9.38) in Valle Grande. TSS content of fruit was maximum (15.33^oB) in Tropic Sweet and minimum (11.17 ^oB) in Prabhat. Titratable acidity was maximum (0.89%) in Pratap and minimum (0.42%) in Saharanpur Prabhat. Total sugars were maximum (12.94%) in Pratap and minimum (9.26%) in TropicBeauty. Based on the present studies some of these genotypes do possess one or more desirable fruit quality characteristics and may be future commercial varieties provided they are tested multilocationally.