Adaptation Potential of Low Chill Peach Varieties to Inter-annual Climatic Variability in the Lower ShiwalikHimalayas

摘要

Fruit tree production is a mid to long term investment in which only few adjustments can be done once the crop has become established. Targeting of existing varieties for expected climatic variability is therefore critical for any fruit grower. In thecurrent studies inter-annual variability in climatic variables has been desired to be confirmed with its potential impact on variation in the phenological, production and quality traits of peach germplasm grown under the subtropical Himalayan eco-system. Different meteorological variables were monitored and behaviour of ten peach varieties were studied for their date of first bloom, full bloom fruit maturity, yield and fruit quality parameters during the years 2006-07 to 2012-13. Higher inter-annual variability in climatic variables has been confirmed together with the variation in the phenological traits. Yield and fruit quality performance of these varieties has also been evaluated. The resilience potential of varieites to climate change was ranked(in decresing order) as: Early Grande> Shan-i-Punjab> Pratap> Florida Prince> May Fire.