Fruit quality attributes of new peach and nectarine varieties under selection in the Ebro valley conditions (Spain)

Abstract

A breeding program searching for new peach and nectarine varieties adapted to the Ebro Valley growing conditions is being developed at the Aula Dei Experimental Station (CSIC). This program evaluates 15 populations obtained by controlled crosses. Different agronomic parameters such as blooming date, yield, and ripening date were determined in these populations. Quality traits such as fruit type, weight, flesh firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), total phenolics content, antioxidant activity, and other chemical attributes were determined and evaluated. In addition, market life was tested based on chilling injury (CI) susceptibility. Several parameters studied such as yield, SSC, sugars composition, total phenolics, and CI sensibility showed a great variability within the different populations.