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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2016, Vol. 15 Issue (06): 1267-1274    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61374-6
Physiology·Biochemistry·Cultivation·Tillage Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Accumulated chilling hours during endodormancy impact blooming and fruit shape development in peach (Prunus persica L.)
LI Yong, FANG Wei-chao, ZHU Geng-rui, CAO Ke, CHEN Chang-wen, WANG Xin-wei, WANG Li-rong
Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou 450009, P.R.China
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Abstract     Winter chill is essential for the growth and development of deciduous species. To understand the relationship between accumulated chilling hours during endodormancy and blooming and fruit shape development, we controlled chilling hours and investigated their effects on blooming date and fruit shape of peaches. The results showed that the number of days to full bloom date and the heat requirement for blooming were negatively correlated with accumulated chilling hours. Accumulated chilling hours were significantly negatively correlated with fruit shape index and fruit tip lengths, suggesting that the number of chilling hours affect the fruit shape development. Fewer accumulated chilling hours may be the major reason for longer fruit shape and protruding fruit tips. In conclusion, our results indicate specifically that decreased winter chilling hours can delay the bloom date and may lead to aberrant fruit shape development in peaches. Our study provides preliminary insights into the response of temperate fruit species to global climate change.
Keywords:  accumulated chilling hours        blooming        fruit shape        endodormancy        Prunus persica  
Received: 13 October 2015   Accepted:
Fund: 

This research was supported by the grants from the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program, China (CAAS-ASTIP-2015-ZFRI) and the Comprehensive Experimental Station of Zhengzhou of China Agriculture Research System (CARS-31-Z-10).

Corresponding Authors:  WANG Li-rong, Tel/Fax: +86-371-55906989, E-mail: wlirong2009@sina.com   
About author:  LI Yong, E-mail: jay20075267@163.com;

Cite this article: 

LI Yong, FANG Wei-chao, ZHU Geng-rui, CAO Ke, CHEN Chang-wen, WANG Xin-wei, WANG Li-rong. 2016. Accumulated chilling hours during endodormancy impact blooming and fruit shape development in peach (Prunus persica L.). Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 15(06): 1267-1274.

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