Identification and analysis of spur growth in peach (Prunus persicaL. Batsch)

SummaryThe evaluation of spur growth habit in 49 peach genotypes through visual ratings and measurement of the number of spurs per unit branch length indicated a wide range of genotypic variation in this character. Most standard U.S.A. cultivars developed few spurs. The lowest spur density genotype (cv Sunhigh) had 8× the distance between spurs than did the highest spur density genotype (cv Nishiki). Spur type trees could be upright or spreading. Spur types were not necessarily short-internode trees. High fruit production was generally, but not always, associated with high spur density. The development of spur type peach cultivars appears to be genetically feasible using P. persica spur type parents.