Deanthocyaninic yellow flesh nectarines: Advances selection and new breeding program

The fruits involved in this research (dean thocyaninic canning nectarines) are characterised by the total absence or limited presence of anthocyaninic pigments in the skin and in the flesh, by being clingstone, with yellow flesh texture and flavour typical of canning peaches. In 1984 a breeding program was started by the Department of Horticulture, of the University of Florence in order to obtain such a new type of fruit. The desired traits were found in late ripening nectarines (such as 'Flamekist', 'Fairlane' and 'Tasty Free') and very early ripening canning peaches ('Maria Serena' and `DOFI-71.041.009'). As expected, among the 786 F-1 seedlings obtained in 1984, none of them showed the desired characteristics. Hence 315 F-2 new seedlings were obtained in years 1987-1988 by self-pollination. Given the low amount of desired traits in the progenies obtained in 1984, a new cross-breeding program was carried out in 1994, using as mother plants the best deanthocyaninic nectarines of the previous program ('DOFI-87.406.503', 'DOFI-87.406.032', 'DOFI87.406.141', 'DOFI-87.406.144', 'DOFI-88.410.003' and 'Maria Dorata'), and as pollinators the old cultivars 'Oom Sarel', 'Tatura Sunset', 'Malherbe' and 'Keimoes', all of them canning peaches with high technological traits and without or with low anthocyaninic coloration. Seedlings obtained were back-crossed or self-pollinated. The obtained progenies (250 seedlings) are now under evaluation.