Fruit characteristics of the joy peach cultivars

Authors: Chen, Chunxian

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2023
Publication Date: 3/2/2023
Citation: Chen, C. 2023. Fruit characteristics of the joy peach cultivars. HortScience. 58(4): 428-432. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17056-22.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17056-22

Interpretive Summary: A trio of peach cultivars, Crimson Joy, Liberty Joy and Rich Joy, have been recently released by the United States Department of Agriculture Byron breeding program; the cultivars ripen at Byron, Georgia in early to mid-June, late June to early July, and mid-July, respectively. Data on the fruit characteristics of these recently released cultivars was lacking. Such data are needed to understand the ripening process and optimize harvest timing. Therefore, the goal of this study was to generate useful data on the fruit characteristic of the new cultivars. Characteristics of ripening weekly harvested fruit from the three cultivars in two trial orchards were measured and compared. Fruit weight, flesh weight, pit weight, equatorial and polar diameters, and sugar content were significantly different among the three cultivars. ‘Crimson Joy’ had the smallest size and ‘Rich Joy’ fruit the largest. ‘Liberty Joy’ had the firmest fruit and least juice volume and blush rating value at maturation. Average fruit sizes from the commercial orchard were bigger than those from the research orchard. Peach fruit experienced dramatic changes during the ripening weeks; weights and diameters increased whereas firmness was reduced. Correlations varied greatly between fruit characteristics. Fruit weight and diameter had the strongest positive correlations and firmness showed a substantially negative correlations with several characteristics, including three weights, two diameters, juice volume, sugar content and blush rating value. The data should be very useful to determine the appropriate harvest timing of the three cultivars, which could differ for packing or roadside sales.

Technical Abstract: A trio of peach cultivars, Crimson Joy, Liberty Joy and Rich Joy, have been recently released by the United States Department of Agriculture Byron breeding program, which ripen at Byron, Ga in early to mid-June, late June to early July, and mid-July, respectively. Additional data on changes of their fruit characteristics are needed to help understand the ripening process and optimize harvest timing. This study was to measure and compare characteristics of ripening fruit weekly harvested from the three “Joy” cultivars in two trial orchards. Fruit characteristics showed differences and statistical significances in the three cultivars, trial locations, and harvest weeks. Difference in the five size-related characteristics (fruit weight, flesh weight, pit weight, equatorial and polar diameters) and soluble solid content (SSC) were statistically significant among the three cultivars. ‘Crimson Joy’ had the smallest averages in the size-related characteristics and ‘Rich Joy’ fruit had the largest. ‘Liberty Joy’ had the firmest fruit and least juice volume and blush rating value at maturation. All size-related characteristics indicated that the trees in the commercial block produced larger fruit than those in the Byron research block. Differences among the harvests were statistically significant among all the fruit characteristics, suggesting the peach fruit experienced dramatic changes during the ripening weeks. The size-related weights and diameters, juice volumes, and SSC continued to increase in the harvests with reduced firmness. Correlation coefficients varied greatly between these fruit characteristics. The highest positive correlations were observed between fruit weight, equatorial diameter, polar diameter, and flesh weight. Pit weight was also positively correlated with them to a weaker extent. Firmness showed substantial negative correlations with several characteristics, including three weights, two diameters, juice volume, SSC and blush rating value. SSC and titratable acidity were also negatively correlated. The data confirmed that peach fruit continued to size while ripening and should be useful to determine appropriate harvest timing, which could differ for packing or roadside sales.