Variability and heritability of flower traits, flowering and fruit set in promising peach hybrids

In 11 promising peach hybrids obtained from crossing 'Flaminia' x 'Autumnglo', the flower traits, flowering and fruit set were studied during the two-year period. Significant differences between the studied hybrids were determined for most investigated flower traits, except for petal shape index. Regarding the characteristics of flowering and fruit set, significant differences were observed only for the flower density and initial fruit set. The highest flower diameter (5.0 cm), petal length (2.4 cm) and width (2.1 cm) were observed in hybrid FA11. Petal shape index was the highest in hybrid FA6 (1.16) and length of pistil in hybrid FA4 (1.5 cm). Start of bloom ranged from March 29 to March 31, full bloom from March 31 to April 3, and end of bloom from April 7 to April 14. The highest flower density was observed in FA2 hybrid (5.0), and the lowest in FA5 hybrid (2.0). The initial fruit set ranged from 55.5% (hybrid FA4) to 85.2% (hybrid FA8), and the final fruit set from 22.8% (hybrid FA11) to 42.0% (hybrid FA5). The lowest coefficient of variation was observed for start of bloom (2.3%), full bloom (2.4%) and petal shape index (2.6%), while the highest variation was observed for end of bloom (14.3%), final fruit set (17.6%) and flower density (21.1%). The highest heritability was observed for flower diameter (93.1%), and petal width (90.0%) and length (88.3%). The heritability in other traits, ranged from 9.1% (pistil length) to 67.4% (flower density).