Cross breeding of peaches and sub-species for subtropical conditions

Turkey ranks fifth in the world in terms of peach and nectarine production. Early peach and nectarine production is gaining importance in the world. In addition, the recognition and market share of flat-shaped tomato peaches is increasing day by day. The aim of this peach crossbreeding study was to obtain low chilling peach and nectarine genotypes suitable to grow under subtropical climatic conditions. Sunmist, Sunfire, Nectar Sevil, Tropic Snow and the pollen of Platifirst, Platibelle, Platifun were used in the first year's experiments in 2011. However, for several reasons, the cultivars have to be changed to Maycrest, Springcrest, Early Silver, Gransun, Sunsnow, Venus, and Stark Redgold peach and nectarine cultivars and Jalousia flat peach and 5 different flat peach genotypes (No.1, No.2, No.3, No.4 and No.5). The crossing experiments were carried out during 2011-2018 both in Adana (low chill units) and in Pozantı (high chill units) to obtain also high chilling requiring cultivars besides the low chilling ones. As a result of the experiments, 54 genotypes in 2017 and 47 genotypes in 2018 were found to be promising genotypes. Among them, 17 tomato peaches were obtained from the hybrid individuals obtained in 2017 and 14 from the hybrid individuals obtained in 2018. In Adana, where the hybrids were planted in the orchard, 827 hours according to the classical method, 372 units according to the chill unit method were obtained during the 2016-2017 winter period, 268 hours according to the classical method and 170 units according to the chill unit method were obtained during the 2017-2018 winter period. The chilling requirements of the fruiting genotypes in 2018 varied between 168 and 275 hours according to the classical method, and between 91 and 150 units according to the chill unit method. According to these data, genotypes satisfied chilling requirements and fruit set especially in the mild 2017-2018 winter period were considered promising. The fruit characteristics of the genotypes were changed considering the ripening periods, phenological and pomology characteristics in both years.