Breeding of a new early-mid ripening peach cultivar Shihezaoxiangmi

Shihezaoxiangmi peach is an early maturing variant from a local traditional cultivar Shiheshuimi. In the early 21st century, during the investigation of peach germplasm resources in Anhui Province, an early maturing tree was discovered by the research group in Shihe village, Shexian County, Huangshan City. Through high grafting identification experiment, variety comparison experiment and regional cultivation experiment, the peach showed stable characteristics. It was authorized by the Crop variety Identification Committee of Anhui Horticultural Society and officially named as Shihezaoxiangmi in December 2023. Shihezaoxiangmi cultivar had strong growth potential and opening tree form. The fruit shape of Shihezaoxiangmi was elliptic, the suture line was shallow, and the two halves of the fruit were relatively symmetrical. The fruit shape index was 0.93 (average longitudinal diameter is 7.41 cm, average transverse diameter is 7.94 cm). The average fruit weight was 275.0 g, and the maximum fruit weight was 345.0 g. The fruit apex was round flat and slightly concave. The background color of the fruit was milky yellow, and the top sunny side was covered with rose red. After bagging, the background color was milky white, and the skin was milky yellow. The flesh was milky white, easy to peel, and rich in sugar, juice and flavor with less fiber and soft solute. The color of the flesh near the stone was rosy; the content of soluble acid was 0.38%; the content of soluble solid was 12.5%. The fruit quality was very high although it was not able to store and transport for a long time due to the soft solute characteristic. In Huangshan area, the flowering period of Shihezaoxiangmi was in late March to early April. The fruit ripened in early to mid of July, and the fruit development period was about 100 days. The leaf fall period was mid to late October, and the growth period was about 210 days. Shihezaoxiangmi had strong cold tolerance and drought tolerance, but weak waterlogging tolerance, and strong resistance to anthracnose, bacterial piercing disease and peach scab. The variety was self fertile and very productive. Shihezaoxiangmi should be suitable for regional cultivation inAnhui province.