Developing Low Chill, High Quality Japanese Plums in Subtropical Taiwan
Journal
Acta Horticulturae
Journal Issue
622
Pages
437-441
ISBN
978-90-66051-89-8
Date Issued
2003-08
Author(s)
Ien-Chie Wen
W.B. Sherman
Abstract
Taiwan, situated on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, is transversed by
the Tropic of Cancer and has a summer rainy season in a subtropical climate with a
warm winter—the limiting factor for producing traditional temperate zone
deciduous fruits. Growing deciduous fruit on the slopes at high elevations led to water
erosion of soil, and as an alternative, the Taiwan Government in 1980, encouraged the
breeding of low chill unit (cu) cultivars to be planted on less erodeable slopes at lower
elevations. Only 35 ha of standard high chill plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cultivars
are planted in limited mountain areas above 1500 m elevation. The planted area of
Japanese plums in Taiwan was 9150 ha in 1990, but decreased to 4569 ha by 2000,
primarily due to small fruit size and low fruit quality of the low chill local cultivars
which do not compete on modern fruit markets. The main objective in plum breeding
was to develop low chill cultivars with high fruit quality. Twenty-five native low-chill
plums collected throughout Taiwan and 11 introduced from the University of Florida
were evaluated at the Rona repository for tree and fruit characteristics. Three of the
evaluated genotypes are recommended for grower trial. Four sweet skin genotypes
were selected from local germplasm as breeding parents. Five genotypes with good
eating fruit quality and a low chill requirement, selected in the breeding program, are
in early commercial production.
Event(s)
XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Genetics and Breeding of Tree Fruits and Nuts
Subjects
low-chill
prunus salicina
Publisher
International Society for Horticultural Science
Description
Place: Toronto, Canada
Type
conference paper