Abstract
Forty low chill peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] and nectarine cultivars have been named and released from the University of Florida breeding program since 1950 and many additional clonal selections have been named in other countries. These peaches and nectarines ripen early and target a market window between 15 April and 1 June. The fruit of the more recent releases have significant advantages over earlier releases in terms of earlier ripening, increased size and firmness, rounder shape, and more attractive skin color. Peaches and nectarines can be categorized based on melting and nonmelting fruit types. The new generation of peaches and nectarines are the non-melting flesh types. They can be harvested and shipped at physiological maturity since the flesh is firm and it resists bruising. The most recent non-melting flesh peaches from the University of Florida breeding program are 'UFGold', 'UF2000', 'UFO', and 'Gulfprince'; 'UFQueen' is the first non-melting flesh nectarine. All the aforementioned cultivars are patented. The melting and non-melting flesh peaches from the University of Florida that are suitable for trial in Florida are as follows: central Florida—'Flordaprince', 'Flordaglo',Tropicbeauty', and Tropics now'; north central Florida—'Flordadawn', Flordaking', 'Flordacrest', 'UFGold', 'UF2000', and 'UFO'; and northern Florida—'Flordadawn', 'Flordaking', 'Flordacrest', and 'Gulfprince'. 'Sunraycer' and 'UFQueen' arenectarine cultivars for north central Florida, while Suncoasf nectarine is worthy of trial in northern Florida.
