Variations in the hybrid progeny of low chill white × yellow fleshed peaches

Abstract

Low chill Flordaglo (White flesh) × Florda Prince (Yellow flesh) hybrid population was studied for variations in flower and fruit traits. Useful variations in flower density, fruit density, fruit weight, fruit colour, fruit size and biochemical compounds was observed in the population. The hybrids showed variability for biochemical characters like total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, reducing sugars, acidity, ascorbic acid, total phenols, antioxidant capacity, anthocyanin level and carotenoids. The range of biochemical characters in hybrids even exceeded that of the parents showing superiority of some hybrids to the parental varieties. Useful variation in fruit weight, fruit colour, fruit size and biochemical characters have been observed in the populations and the plants have been identified. Transgressive segregation has also been observed for fruit weight, size, TSS, carotenoids, phenols and extent of fruit colour. A significant positive correlation was found between flower density and fruit density (r = 0.9); fruit diameter and fruit length (r = 0.9); fruit weight and fruit diameter (r = 0.9); total sugars and TSS (r = 0.5); anthocyanin and total sugar content (r = 0.5); phenols and antioxidant activity (r = 0.4). The loci governing these traits seem to be combining in additive fashion in the population. The results from the chi-square test (χ2) for the goodness of fit showed that the segregation ratio for flesh colour in the Flordaglo × Florda Prince F1 population, fits in the BC1 F1 population which is 1:1. Hence, the flesh colour seems to be governed by single gene.