Incidence of Blind Nodes in Low-chill Peach and Nectarine Germplasm

Abstract

Observational evidence is presented to support the idea that blind node incidence increases when shoot growth is rapid with higher midsummer temperatures. Seventy-three low-chill cultivars and selections of peach and nectarine ( P. persica(L.) Batsch) from the University of Florida breeding program were evaluated at Gainesville, Florida in January 1992 for the incidence of blind nodes. The incidence for blind nodes ranged from 10 to 85% indicating wide genetic diversity in the germplasm. Both melting and non-melting selections spanned the full ranged; however, more non-melting flesh selections appeared to be in the upper part of the range for blind nodes. Selection Fla. 4-4, which has been selected for flowering ability as an ornamental, had the fewest blind nodes.