Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 4.1
World acreage (
a
) and yield (
b
) of the main temperate fruit species
Peach
The peach (
Prunus persica
) is native to the warmer areas of China, it thrives
in hat summer climates and it is only moderately winter hardy. Flat peaches from
Southern China are semi-evergreen and have a very low chilling requirement. They
are used in some breeding program to obtain low chilling varieties for the sub-
tropic. Peach varieties have a modest chilling requirement from about 400 to 800 h.
They are less hardy than apple and pear and are grown mostly in lower temperate
latitudes. Since peach blooms 20 days before apple, it should be planted in areas
free of early spring frost.
Cherry
The sweet cherry (
Prunus avium
) originated in the Caucasus between Black
and Caspian seas. Sweet cherries are susceptible to brown-rot and should be grown
where it is too cold or dry for the disease to develop. This fruit crop may grow in cli-
mates that are too cold for peach and apricot. Thus, areas with good winter moisture
and dry cool summer are ideal. Cherry fruits ripe early, so irrigation is usually not
