Genetic Progress in 53 Years of the Peach Breeding Program of Embrapa: Canning Genotypes

Abstract

Peach is a traditional crop in the south of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, where 30 to 53 million cans of peaches in syrup are produced annually. All the raw material produced in the region consists of fruits originating from the peach breeding program of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa Temperate Agriculture), which started even before Embrapa at the Experimental Station of Pelotas, Ministry of Agriculture. The objective was to estimate the genetic progress in phenological traits and production of canning peach resulting from the peach breeding program of Embrapa Temperate Agriculture in 53 years. We divided the data records considered in the estimation of genetic progress into two periods, 1964-1984 and 1985-2017, totaling 53 years. The following traits: maturing period, cycle, number of fruits, fruit weight, yield, and soluble solids content were evaluated. We initially tabulated data and analyzed descriptive statistics. Subsequently, we conducted analysis of mixed models and obtained the estimates of genetic progress through meta-analysis. Genetic gain for earliness, shortening the cycle from flowering to maturation, and genetic gain for fruit yield were observed.