VARIABILITY AND ASSOCIATION STUDIES ON LOW CHILLING GENOTYPES OF PEACH [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch]
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Date
2016
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ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled "Variability and association studies on low chilling genotypes of peach
[Prunus persica L. Batsch]" was carried out at Peach Germplasm Block, Department of Fruit Science. Dr Y S
Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H P) during 2014-15 with the objective of
evaluating low chilling peaches and to study the variability, heritability, correlation and path analysis of different
characters. Ten low chill genotypes of peach namely, TropicSweet, Saharanpur Prabhat, EarliGrande,
Flordaprince, Tropicsnow, Flordaglo, ValleGrande, TropicBeauty, Pratap and FlordaGrande were evaluated for
their plant growth, floral, fruiting and biochemical characteristics. Analysis of variance showed significant
differences among all the genotypes for all the characteristics under study viz., tree height, tree spread, trunk girth,
tree volume, annual shoot growth, date of opening of first flower, date of full bloom, date of opening of last
flower, duration of flowering, flower density, fruit set, time of maturity, days from full bloom to harvest, fruit size
[fruit length x fruit breadth], fruit weight, fruit volume, fruit firmness, stone weight, pulp to stone ratio, yield per
tree, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and sugar:acid. The
genotype TropicSweet recorded highest yield and performed better for other important horticultural traits among
different genotypes and may be suggested for cultivation in mid-hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh. High
heritability coupled with high genetic gain was obtained for pulp to stone ratio indicating some scope for their
improvement through selection. High heritability coupled with moderate genetic gain was obtained for yield per
tree, fruit volume, fruit weight, sugar acid ratio, non-reducing sugars and titratable acidity. Hence, selection can
prove effective for improvement in fruit yield and other traits. A highly significant and positive phenotypic and
genotypic correlations of yield were found with trunk girth, flower density, fruit set and fruit weight. Maximum
positive direct effect cited towards yield were contributed by fruit set, followed by average fruit volume, fruit
weight, trunk girth, stone weight, tree volume and duration of flowering.