Peach

Question 1

The Persians apple
scientific names
genus
Family 
origin

Answer 1

Prunus persica
Prunus
Rosaceae
peach belongs to the prunoideae subfamily of Rosaceae with other species collectively called stonefruits
These fruits are commonly called “stone fruits” because the flesh surrounds a large, stone-like pit which contains the seed
China and Persia

Question 2

Nutritional Value

Answer 2

Good source of iron and Phosphorus
Fresh peaches provide – antioxidant, vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber.
Nectarines provide twice the vitamin A, slightly more vitamin C, and much more potassium than peaches

Question 3

Flower type

Growth & Development

Answer 3

Hermaphrodite
insect pollinated
self fertile
Flowers & fruit are produced 
laterally on 1 yr wood.

Question 4

Climate

Answer 4

1.Peach requires the warmest climate of all temperate crops
2.A lot of the summer heat is required to mature the crop
Hottest months mean temperature; 20 °C to 30 °C
Chilling Requirement
150-1,200 hrs, 7°C or less
3.Subtropical
low chill cultivars (150-350hrs
Damage occurs at
Minus 4oC, damages bud burst,
Minus 3oC, blossoms,
Minus 1°C, small fruits

Question 5

Soils

highest and lowest peach production

Answer 5

Deep well drained light soils are best. 
●  Heavy & fertile soils are not good
     _ Results in heavy vegetative growth & winter injury.   
Ph 6.0 - 6.5
Hiighest is Mongar

Question 6

Varieties in Bhutan

Answer 6

Local -Baekham and Losukham
and exotic varieties-
Bajokham-1(Floridasan) 1 matures in may,fetches premium prices
Bajokham -2july Eberta

Question 7

Cultivars based on two categories

Answer 7

Freestone
The flesh separates readily from the pit
Preferred for eating fresh or for freezing
Clingstone
The flesh clings tightly to the pit
Are used primarily for canning

Question 8

Nectarine

Answer 8

Nectarines are peaches without hair.
The Nectarine is different to the peach
because of a single recessive gene (homozygote) & peach
has two alleles (heterozygote)

Question 9

Propagation & Rootstocks

Planting

Answer 9

Propagation is by grafting & budding
Druk seed propagates on local seedlings

Local seedlings & peach seeds require 3 months chilling at 4oC prior to sowing
Scion Rootstock
July Eberta local peach
Floradsun GF677

Plant spacing 6x 6m
Plant at the dormant stage.
Pit size 1m x 1m & fill with topsoil & FYM

Question 10

Training

Answer 10

Open Centre
Mature Trees
cut back branches that exceeds2-2.5m high
each year thin out
10-20% of the one year old fruiting wood

Question 11

Flowering thinning

Disadvantages of Flower Thinning ?

Answer 11

Most peach cultivars set too many fruit.
Only 10% of the flowers need to set fruit for the tree to have a full crop load.
80-90% of flowers are removed for proper fruit size.

This is done 30-45 days after full bloom

Small = slow
Labour Intensive

Question 12

Alternatively fruit thin

Answer 12

Fruits are thinned soon after full bloom
To prevent overloaded branch breakage
To avoid alternate bearing by stimulating flower bud initiation for next season’s crop
Fruits are thinned 
to improve fruit quality 
Size & Eating

Question 13

Diseases

yields

Answer 13

Gummosis and peach leaf curl
Peach fruits in 2-3 years after planting,
Full production by 4-6 years
Production is about 40-70kgs/tree/season