Distribution of leaf nitrogen with respect to leaf mass per unit area (M(a)), nitrogen per unit mass (N(m)) and nitrogen per unit area (N(a)) within peach (Prunus persica L.) tree canopies was studied in two field experiments. In one experiment, leaf light exposure and M(a) were measured on leaves from different canopy positions of peach trees subjected to five nitrogen (N) fertilization treatm...

Peach (Prunus persica, Rosaceae) is an extremely popular tree fruit worldwide, with an annual production near 20 million tons. Peach is widely thought to have origins in China, but its evolutionary history is largely unknown. The oldest evidence for the peach has been Chinese archaeological records dating to 8000-7000 BP. Here, we report eight fossil peach endocarps from late Pliocene strata of...

Bagging is a useful method to improve fruit quality by altering its exposure to light, whereas its effect on fruit volatiles production is inconsistent, and the genes responsible for the observed changes remain unknown. In the present study, single-layer yellow paper bags were used to study the effects of bagging treatment on the formation of C6 aldehydes in peach fruit (Prunus persica L. Batsc...

Polygalacturonase (PG) is an important hydrolytic enzyme involved in pectin degradation during fruit softening. However, the roles of PG family members in fruit softening remain unclear. We identified 45 PpPG genes in the peach genome which are clustered into six subclasses. PpPGs consist of four to nine exons and three to eight introns, and the exon/intron structure is basically conserved in a...

The effect of Steinernema riobrave and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora on population density of Mesocriconema xenoplax in peach was studied in the greenhouse. Twenty-one days after adding 112 M. xenoplax adults and juveniles/1,500 cm(3) soil to the soil surface of each pot, 50 infective juveniles/cm(2) soil surface of either S. riobrave or H. bacteriophora were applied. Another entomopathogenic n...

Annual postplanting applications of 40.7 kg/ha DBCP (1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane) controlled Macroposthonia xenoplax (Raski, 1952) deGrisse and Loof, 1965 in peach tree short life sites, reduced bacterial canker incidence from 74% to 6%, and inreased the average life of the trees from 3.9 to 6.8 yr for a 7-yr test period. Hydrated lime at 5.5 kg per planting site reduced bacterial canker incide...

The fruit canning industry processes large quantities of the clingstone varieties of peach (Prunus persica L. Batch). The occurrence of split-pit formation--the opening of the pit and sometimes splitting of the fruit--causes deterioration of canned fruit quality. The frequency of split-pit formation is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. To increase understanding of the molecular m...

Phytophthora is a microbial genus that includes species causing many diseases (Erwin and Ribeiro, 1996). These species infect and kill nearly all species of deciduous fruit trees. Phytophthora crown and root rots, which are caused mainly by P. cactorum, P. megasperma, P. citrophthora, P. cinnamomi, P. cambivora, P. syringae and P. cryptogea (Sarejanni, 1935; Kouyeas, 1971; Kouyeas, 1977; Flores...

We developed new integrated pest management programs for eastern U.S. peaches with minimal use of organophosphates. From 2002-2005, we assessed the ecological impacts of these reduced-risk programs versus grower standard conventional programs that still relied primarily on the use of organophosphorous and carbamate insecticides. Using a split-plot design replicated at four commercial Pennsylvan...