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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #419352
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of Stone Fruit Crops/Cultivars for the Southeastern United States

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: Two New Early Season Peach Cultivars from the USDA Byron Station

Author
item Chen, Chunxian

Submitted to: University of Georgia Peach Blog
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/2024
Publication Date: 9/19/2024
Citation: Chen, C. 2024. Two New Early Season Peach Cultivars from the USDA Byron Station. University of Georgia Peach Blog. N/A. https://site.extension.uga.edu/peaches/.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The USDA-ARS stone fruit program at Byron, GA has released two new early season peach cultivars named ‘May Joy’ and ‘Cardinal Joy’. ‘May Joy’ requires ~650 chill hours (CH) and produces yellow-fleshed, clingstone fruit that typically ripen approximately a week before ‘Flavorich’ (syn. ‘Rich May’) and 2-3 weeks before ‘Carored’ in early to mid May in Byron, GA. ‘May Joy’ fills an earlier season niche than currently planted cultivars. ‘Cardinal Joy’ requires ~850 CH and produces yellow-fleshed, semi-freestone fruit. The fruit typically ripen about a week after 'Flavorich' and a few days before ‘‘Carored’ in mid to late May in Byron, GA. ‘Cardinal Joy’ is a promising higher chilling requirement alternative in the early season. Both new cultivars are suited for trial in areas wherever ‘Flavorich’ and ‘Carored’ are grown. Prospective licensees and requesters for the materials may contact USDA, ARS, Office of Technology Transfer at 5601 Sunnyside Ave, Room 4-1192, Beltsville, MD 20705-5131, USA or via license@usda.gov.