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peer-reviewed research article

High spring temperatures decrease peach fruit size

authors

Gerardo Lopez, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)
R. Scott Johnson, UC Davis
Theodore M. DeJong, UC Davis

publication information

California Agriculture 61(1):31-34. DOI: 10.3733/ca.v061n01p31. January-March 2007.

NALT Keywords

peaches, plant growth, Prunus persica, spring, temperature

abstract

The growth and productivity of peach fruit can be limited by many factors, including weather. Previous research indicated that early-spring temperatures for 30 days after bloom have a strong effect on early peach fruit growth, and both the time and potential fruit size at harvest. We analyzed fruit-size trends of three major cultivars in the California fresh-market peach industry (Flavorcrest, Elegant Lady and O'Henry) over a 20-year period to determine if there is a clear relationship between early-spring temperatures and packed fruit sizes industrywide. This research confirmed two significant trends: the size of packed fruit has increased over the 20-year period between 1985 and 2004, and high early-spring temperatures tended to decrease the size of packed fruit at harvest for any given year.

author affiliations

G. Lopez is Graduate Student, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Àrea de Tecnologia Fruticola, Centre UdL-IRTA, Lleida, Spain; R.S. Johnson is Extension Specialist; T.M. DeJong is Professor, both in the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis. Author G. Lopez received a FPI grant from the Spanish Ministry of Research and Technology (MCyT) to visit UC Davis.

References

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Lopez G, DeJong TM. Spring temperatures have a major effect on early peach fruit growth. J Hort Sci Biotech. 2007. In press

Naor A, Klein I, Hupert H, et al. Water stress and crop level interactions in relation to nectarine yield, fruit size distribution and water potentials. J Am Soc Hort Sci. 1999. 124:93.


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