Variability of ripening peaches from different orchards, seasons, and harvests in the southeastern USA

Peach trials are an essential component of the conventional breeding pipeline. In this study, we analyzed data from a peach trial and revealed the variability of fruit characteristics of ripening peaches across different seasons, harvests, and trial locations. Fruit characteristics varied greatly and showed different distribution patterns among the trial orchards, maturity season groups, and weekly harvests, respectively. In general, higher fruit weights, larger sizes, and higher soluble solids content (SSC) were more often found in later-matured groups, and in commercial orchards. Pearson correlations also varied greatly. The highest positive correlations were observed between fruit weight, flesh weight, and the average of equatorial and polar diameters, any of which could be used as an indicator of fruit size. Firmness showed weak negative correlations with most fruit characteristics, including fruit weight, diameters, blush rating, juice volume, and SSC, which were consistent with the trend that peach fruit on trees continued to get bigger, redder, juicier, and sweeter while softening in the ripening process. The Hunter L, a, and b color scale values demonstrated regularity and variation. L (lightness) and b (−blue, +yellow) values of ripening peach fruit were highly linearly correlated, but L and a (−green, +red) or b and a were not. The data is also valuable for understanding the peach fruit ripening process, optimizing appropriate harvest timing, and determining potential new releases.