Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #411214
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of Stone Fruit Crops/Cultivars for the Southeastern United States

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: May joy peach

Author
item Chen, Chunxian
item OKIE, WILLIAM - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/13/2024
Publication Date: 5/20/2024
Citation: Chen, C., Okie, W. 2024. ‘May Joy’ Peach. HortScience. 59(7):919-920. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17670-23.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17670-23

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service stone fruit breeding program at Byron, GA is one of the few public programs that remain active in development of new peach cultivars adapted to the Southeastern climate and suitable for the regional shipping industry. A new peach cultivar named ‘May Joy’ is released, which produces an attractive, almost full-blushed peach ripening approximately a week before ‘Flavorich’ and 2-3 weeks before ‘Carored’. Flavorich’ and ‘Carored’ are currently planted as early season peaches. This cultivar has a chilling requirement estimated at ~650 chill hours and is suited for trial in areas wherever ‘Flavorich’ and ‘Carored’ are grown. The new release, 'May Joy’, fills an important niche for Southeastern peach growers by providing a cultivar choice that is even more early season than currently planted cultivars.

Technical Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of peach tree, denominated ‘May Joy’, has melting, yellow-flesh fruit with balanced acidity and pleasant eating quality. The fruit typically are round with high blush and attractive yellow ground color, ripen approximately 1-2 weeks before ‘Flavorich’ and 2-3 weeks before ‘Carored’ in early to mid-May in Byron, GA. The tree is moderately vigorous and semi-spreading in growth habit, has showy pink flowers, and regularly bears crops in absence of severe spring frost. This cultivar has a winter chilling requirement estimated at approximately 650 chill hours and is suited for for trial in areas wherever ‘Flovorich’ and ‘Carored’ are grown.