Peach germplasm and breeding programs at Zhengzhou in China

Peach germplasm collection was initiated at Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute in the 1960s. The National Peach Repository was established at Zhengzhou in 1986 and now contains over 600 peach germplasm accessions. This collection was evaluated for horticultural characters, chilling requirement, and resistance to root knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), aphids (Myzus persica) and crown gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) and a database was built. The breeding program began in the 1970s and has released 4 yellow processing peaches and 3 nectarines. The most widely planted of these releases is the 'Shuguang' nectarine. The present breeding objectives focus on early-ripening and mid-season nectarines, flat peaches and nectarines, and low chill ornamental peach varieties.