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Cold tolerance was measured midwinter in a New Hampshire, USA, orchard collection of 33 peach and nectarine cultivars over 3 years using natural and artificial freezing methods. Flower bud survival and xylem and cambium hardiness were based on the inflection point from nonlinear regression, as well as comparisons of injury at about 220 (C. Flower bud hardiness was greatest in ‘BuenOs’, ‘Contender’, ‘Cresthaven’, ‘Redhaven’, and ‘Scarlet Rose’. The lowest hardiness occurred in ‘Brigantine’, ‘Desiree’, ‘Emeraude’, ‘Evelynn’, ‘Galaxy’, ‘Glenglo’, ‘Jade’, ‘PF5D’, ‘PF23’, ‘Silverglo’, ‘Spring Snow’, and ‘Sugar May’. Other cultivars had either intermediate or inconsistent year-to-year bud hardiness. Bud hardiness in 2021 was weakly correlated with bud hardiness in 2023, but neither were correlated with bud mortality in 2022 after a severe freeze. Cambial hardiness in one year was not correlated with hardiness in other years. ‘August Rose’, ‘BuenOs’, ‘Cresthaven’, ‘Desiree’, and ‘Silverglo’ had the hardiest cambium which was consistent from year to year. Xylem hardiness was greatest in ‘BuenOs’, ‘Contender’, ‘Desiree’, ‘John Boy’, ‘PF17’, ‘Redhaven’, ‘Silvergem’, and ‘TangOs’. Xylem injury was significantly correlated across years indicating that this tissue responds more consistently to midwinter freezing temperatures than flower buds and cambium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As compared to conventional physical and chemical techniques, the biological method (green synthesis) is an economical, nontoxic, fast, eco-friendly and cost-effective technique that utilizes plant extract to generate highly stable and biocompatible nanoparticles. The existing study focuses on the synthesis of zinc sulphide nanoparticles (ZnS NPs) using P. persica leaf extract which is used as a reducing agent and their associated properties. The prepared samples were examined in terms of structural, optical, morphological and compositional properties. The SEM images showed the agglomerated spherical particles while XRD spectra confirmed the hexagonal (wurtzite) phase of synthesized ZnS samples with average crystallite sizes found to vary from 12.45 to 14.36 nm. The optical absorption spectra displayed the absorption peaks at 331 nm (4.26 eV) and 339 nm (4.10 eV). This blue shift in the absorption band suggests the formation of ZnS NPs compared with bulk ZnS (∼ 3. 6 8 eV) material. The FTIR peaks from 612– to 630 cm − 1 and 860– to 1022 cm − 1 are because of the symmetric bending vibrations of the Zn–S bands. Electrical measurements showed that the resistivity is found to be decreasing with increasing temperature, signifying the semiconducting behavior of the synthesized ZnS NPs. The findings of this study suggest the feasible use of P. persica leaves extract for the production of ZnS NPs which could be utilized as multifunctional material in medical applications, biosensors, photocatalytic and electrical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peach tree “Prunus persica” is widely cultivated in India, and its fruits which have been used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine, are also known as the Queen of the Fruits. Prunus persica has immense therapeutic potential, widespread use in folklore and ancient systems of medicine for its anti-urolithic and other medicinal properties, and is included in the Pashanbheda group of herbs mentioned in Ayurveda for the treatment of kidney stones. Moreover, with growing interest in phytopharmaceuticals in the present world, there always remains an urge for a comprehensive understanding of the phytochemicals responsible for the medicinal activity of herbal drugs, giving rise to the importance of conducting bioassay-guided fractionation. In this study, the anti-urolithiasis activity of different fractions of Prunus persica fruit extracts was evaluated via Nucleation, Aggregation, and Growth assays, and fraction III showed the highest effects in vitro. This study provides a pharmacological basis for using Prunus persica fruit extract in treating kidney stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summer pruning is an important horticultural operation that is performed to manipulate tree response so as to make it better manageable without a reduction in yield and fruit quality. But the timing is also an important factor in performing this event. Keeping in view the above facts, the present investigation was carried out to elucidate the ‘differential response of summer pruning timing on cropping behavior in low-chill peach cvs. Florida Prince and Shan-i-Punjab’. The experiment was carried out at the experimental orchard of the Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur (HP) during the years 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. There are six treatments in the experiment, each with four replications. T1: no pruning; T2: 25% summer pruning on July 10th + winter pruning (WP); T3: 25% summer pruning on July 20th +WP; T4: 25% summer pruning on July 30th +WP; T5: 25% summer pruning on August 10th +WP); and T6: standard winter pruning (SWP). According to the study’s findings, combining 25% summer pruning on July 10th with winter pruning resulted in the greatest improvement in terms of vegetative, flowering or blooming, and qualitative parameters, namely fruit weight, fruit shape index, total soluble solid, and sugar content. However, Florida Prince showed positive enhancement of various characteristics and performed better than Shan-i-Punjab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium foliar applications are known to effectively enhance peach quality; however, the optimal implementation strategy regarding fruit developmental stages and cultivars remains unclear. In this study, three different moments of fruit Ca applications in peach and nectarine are tested: Early season, Mid-season, and Late season. For this aim, the 44Ca isotope was used as a tracer, enabling the quantification and location of the Ca derived from the foliar fertilizer. Stone, flesh, and skin 44Ca enrichment was separately analyzed at harvest. The results indicate that Ca absorption in the fruits from external CaCl2 applications was influenced by the timing of the application during fruit development, with Late-season applications proving to be the most effective in increasing the Ca content in the fruit, corresponding with a higher fruit size at the application moment. Nevertheless, no differences in the absorption efficiency were found between the three timings of the application. Furthermore, the Ca from the foliar fertilizer in the fruit predominately remained in the flesh, followed by the skin. The Ca derived from the foliar fertilizer reached the stone in all of the experimental situations, but the Early- and Mid-season applications resulted in the highest amount of Ca derived from the fertilizer in this part of the fruit. Interestingly, the peach exhibited a higher Ca absorption efficiency compared to the nectarine, likely due to the presence of trichomes that retain the foliar fertilizer on the fruit surface. In conclusion, the Ca absorption and distribution in peaches depends on the cultivar and timing of the Ca application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Vase system, the most common training system for peach-growing countries for more than a century, light distribution to the canopy is uneven, and access to the canopy for pruning, thinning, and harvest labor is difficult. It is important to identify alternative systems to the Vase system considering the cultivar and growing environment to facilitate labor and enhance productivity and quality. In Türkiye, one of the important centers of peach growing worldwide, detailed research has yet to be published on the applicability of training systems alternative to the widely used Vase system. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different training systems (Vase, Catalan Vase, Quad-V, Tri-V) on growth, yield, fruit quality, and labor costs of peach cultivars (ExtremeVR 314, ExtremeVR 436, ExtremeVR 568). The experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2022. Although the distance between rows in all training systems is 5 m, the distance between trees on the row is determined as 4 m in Vase, 3 m in Catalan Vase, 2.5 m in Quad-V, and 2 m in Tri-V. In the experiment, vegetative development parameters, such as canopy volume, trunk sectional area, and the amount of winter pruning weights, differed according to the training system. In the final year, the Vase system, which produces the most pruning weight, generates 48.0% more pruning weight compared with the Tri-V system, which produces the least. Concerning yield per tree and hectare, trained to the Vase system yielded higher fruit per tree regardless of cultivar, while the Quad-V and Tri-V systems yielded more fruit per hectare. The training system and cultivar affected the fruit size; the largest fruits were obtained from the ExtremeVR 568 cultivar trained according to the Vase system. The most time needed for winter pruning was obtained from the Vase (79.4 min/tree) system, and the Tri-V (57.4 min/tree) and Quad-V (60.3 min/tree) systems required the least time. The Catalan Vase (31.1 min/tree) system required the least time for summer pruning. The most fruit harvest in an hour was obtained from the trees trained according to the Tri-V (164.5 kg/h) and Quad-V (132.02 kg/h) systems. These results suggest that Quad-V and Catalan Vase systems performed well and could be alternatives to the Vase system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was performed on a 6-year-old "Florida" peach cultivar (Prunus persica) during 2022 and 2023 respectively. Twenty-four peach trees uniformly were selected and sprayed two times at the beginning of pit starts hardening and at the end of phase two of fruit growth with the following treatments: the control, glycine betaine at 400 mg l-1, potassium silicate at 200 mg l-1, potassium silicate at 400 mg l-1, potassium silicate at 200 mg l-1 + glycine betaine at 400 mg l-1, potassium silicate at 400 mg l-1 + glycine betaine at 400 mg l-1, proline at 400 mg l-1 and potassium silicate at 200 mg l-1 + proline at 400 mg l-1. The results indicated that both treatments of potassium silicate at 200 mg l-1 + proline at 400 mg l-1 and potassium silicate at 400 mg l-1 + glycine betaine at 400 mg l-1 resulted in a significant increase in concentrations of anthocyanin and total carotenoid contents in the skin. Moreover, total soluble solid, vitamin C and total soluble solid / acidity were shown with high concentrations as compared with the control. Overall, the use of potassium silicate at 200 mg l-1 + proline at 400 mg l-1 or potassium silicate at 400 mg l-1 + glycine betaine at 400 mg l-1 two times is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'BRS Sarau' is a highly productive peach cultivar widely adapted to the Southern and Southeast region of Brazil. It produces fruits of excellent flavor and shape, with attractive skin and flesh color, and its harvest starts near the Christmas holidays, when the demand for peaches is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prevent frost damage in fruit trees, growers employ passive and active methods, and one of these second methods is the use of biostimulant compounds against abiotic stress. In this study, two trials were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-attribute approach biostimulant—containing α-tocopherol, boron, and glycols, in peach ('UFO-4' cultivar) and almond ('Vairo' cultivar) trees. In a first trial, one-year-old shoots with flowers were collected after 24 h, 48 h, and 96 h of the biostimulant applications. Two different application rates of the product (1000 and 2000 cc ha−1) were tested and compared to an untreated control. In a second trial, one-year-old shoots with fruitlets were collected after 24 h of the biostimulant applications. In this case, only an application rate (2000 cc ha−1) was tested. In the two trials, the collected one-year-old shoots were subjected to different frost temperatures using a controlled environment chamber. The damage level was assessed by a morphological analysis of the flowers and fruitlets 96 h after each frost cycle simulation. The lethal temperatures (LT10, LT50, and LT90) of each treatment were calculated by probit analysis. The product applied 24 h and 48 h before the frost simulations significantly decreased the LT10 and LT50 in 1.5 °C in peach flowers, and 2.5 °C in almond flowers (a temperature reduction of 50% and 75%, respectively). These results were more consistent when the application volume was 2000 cc ha−1, instead of 1000 cc ha−1. Significant differences between treated and non-treated fruitlets were observed only in almond fruitlets, with LT10 and LT50 being 0.5 °C lower in treated fruitlets (20% reduction). In conclusion, the multi-attribute approach biostimulant applied 24 or 48 h before the frost reduced the mortality of peach and almond flowers, but its effectiveness to protect fruitlets after bloom was inconsistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peaches are susceptible to various environmental stresses. Particularly in late spring, freezing temperatures can damage peaches and consequently, affect their productivity. Therefore, flowering delay is a prominent strategy for avoiding spring frost damage. Our previous study confirmed that treatment with 5% sodium alginate and 100 mM CaCl2 (5AG) to avoid frost damage during the blooming stage delays flowering. To reveal the flowering delay mechanism of peaches, this study systematically analyzed the modification of amino acid profiles in control and 5AG-treated peach plants at different day intervals. Our findings indicate that arginine (Arg), glutamate (Glu), and proline (Pro) levels differed between the control and 5AG-treated peach shoots throughout the phenological development of flower buds. Furthermore, two amino acids (Arg and Glu) are involved in the Pro pathway. Thus, using a computational metabolomics method, Pro biosynthesis and its characteristics, gene ontology, gene synteny, cis-regulatory elements, and gene organizations were examined to decipher the involvement of Pro metabolism in peach flowering delay. In addition, qRT-PCR analysis revealed the transcriptional regulation of Pro-related and flowering-responsive genes and their role in flowering delay. Overall, this pilot study provides new insights into the role of Pro in the flowering delay mechanisms in Prunus persica through 5AG treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nectarines can be affected by many diseases, resulting in significant production losses. Natural products, such as essential oils (EOs), are promising alternatives to pesticides to control storage rots. This work aimed to test the efficacy of biofumigation with EOs in the control of nectarine postharvest diseases while also evaluating the effect on the quality parameters (firmness, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity) and on the fruit fungal microbiome. Basil, fennel, lemon, oregano, and thyme EOs were first tested in vitro at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0% concentrations to evaluate their inhibition activity against Monilinia fructicola. Subsequently, an in vivo screening trial was performed by treating nectarines inoculated with M. fructicola, with the five EOs at 2.0% concentration by biofumigation, performed using slow-release diffusers placed inside the storage cabinets. Fennel, lemon, and basil EOs were the most effective after storage and were selected to be tested in efficacy trials using naturally infected nectarines. After 28 days of storage, all treatments showed a significant rot reduction compared to the untreated control. Additionally, no evident phytotoxic effects were observed on the treated fruits. EO vapors did not affect the overall quality of the fruits but showed a positive effect in reducing firmness loss. Metabarcoding analysis showed a significant impact of tissue, treatment, and sampling time on the fruit microbiome composition. Treatments were able to reduce the abundance of Monilinia spp., but basil EO favored a significant increase in Penicillium spp. Moreover, the abundance of other fungal genera was found to be modified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to investigate fruit yield and quality characteristics among new nectarine cultivars grown in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. 'Gardeta', 'Gartario', and 'Garofa' nectarine cultivars were cultivated on 'GN15' rootstock. The flowering stage, fruit set percentage, yield, and fruit quality properties of these cultivars were investigated between 2018 and 2021. During the study, chill requirements ranged between 391 and 600 chilling hours and between 207 and 361 chill units in the area, and huge values were obtained for the average initial fruit set above 60% and the final fruit set above 45%. 'Gardeta' had the highest cumulative yield per tree (80.15 kg tree-1) and cumulative yield per hectare (133.04 tons ha-1). The fruit size, Total Soluble Solids (TSS) content, and fruit coloration were homogeneously distributed in all three cultivars. In addition, the Flowering (F) and Initial Fruit Set (IFS) characters were negatively correlated with Fruit Weight (FW), Fruit Length (FLE), and Fruit Diameter (FD). As a result, the 'Gardeta' was found remarkable with late flowering, the highest yield, and superior fruit quality characteristics such as size, red skin color, and high TSS/total acidity values in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. In addition, the date of Full Flowering (FF) and Fruit Firmness (FF) were negatively correlated with fruit Skin color L* (SL), C (SC), and h° (SH) variables. The results demonstrated that the new nectarine cultivars used here showed changes in yield parameters and fruit quality attributes depending on the genotypic and environmental effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract The objective of this work was to quantify peach (Prunus persica) tree production in the Y-training and open-vase management systems, subjected to three summer pruning methods. The experiment was set up in a 2x3 factorial arrangement, with two management systems and three summer pruning methods (no summer pruning, summer pruning, and branch bending). The plants were arranged in two spacings: 1.5×5.0 m for the Y-training system, with 1,334 plants per hectare; and 4.0×5.0 m for open-vase system, with 500 plants per hectare. In the early summer of 2019, summer pruning was performed, being repeated in the three following years. In the branch bending treatment, new branches were twisted manually until reaching an angle of 110°. In the treatment without summer pruning, the branches were not removed. The Y-training system increases peach production. The methods of branch bending in summer and no prunning in summer provide an equivalent peach production, whereas the summer pruning treatment results in the lowest production.

Pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) is a critical defense mechanism employed by plants against pathogen attacks. This study explores the role of PTI induced by the Xyn11/eix fungal elicitor in two commercially valuable Rosaceae species, Prunus persica (peach) and Prunus avium (sweet cherry). Our findings demonstrate that Xyn11/eix triggers two specific defense responses: the increase in ethylene production and the induction of cell death. Furthermore, Xyn11/eix-mediated PTI significantly reduces the susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea infection in both species. The study reveals changes in gene expression patterns after Xyn11/eix treatment. Notably, ACO1 and SARDEF1 genes, involved in ethylene and salycilic acid biosynthesis, respectively, are upregulated in P. persica, but not in P. avium at the time point analyzed. This result suggests a potential role for the ethylene and salicylic acid signaling in Xyn11/mix-mediated PTI in P. persica. Additionally, the research identified functional orthologues of LeEIX2, the receptor for Xyn11/eix in Solanum lycopersicum, within both Prunes genomes. Altogether, these results suggest a remarkable functional convergence between Rosaceae and Solanaceae plants in the Xyn11/eix mediated defense responses although not at the transcriptional level, and opens new avenues for developing novel disease control strategies for stone fruits.

[Objective]To understand the effect of different fertilizers and different fertilization amount on the growth and SPAD of container Prunus persica L. and provide optimal fertilization method for high quality peach plants. [Method]Thirteen different fertilization treatments were designed to study the plant height, ground diameter, crown breadth, branch numbers, the length of current-growth branches and SPAD of container Prunus persica during different periods. [Result]Compound fertilizer of balanced type was more suitable for plant growth than humate fertilizer of phosphorus and potassium type. Combination application of balanced compound fertilizer and low concentration EM bacteria was more beneficial for the growth of container Prunus persica single compound fertilizer. [Conclusion]The optimal treatment for the growth of container Prunus persica was to apply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium balanced compound fertilizer (20 ∶ 20 ∶ 20) with 1 ∶ 1 000-1 ∶ 500 concentration and EM bacteria with 1 ∶ 200 concentration during growing period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have opened the way for using elicitor‐induced resistance in plants as a method to control arthropod pests. In this study, 1,3‐β‐glucan laminarin, an elicitor of disease resistance in plants, was tested on the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch, Rosaceae] plantlets and evaluated its effects on short‐term mortality and population growth. Laminarin exposure did not affect aphid survival in the short term; however, laminarin‐treated peach plants sustained fewer nymphs and adults in comparison with the control. Aphid populations on plants treated with laminarin declined significantly over the sampling period compared to the control. Moreover, the demographic parameters net reproductive rate (R0), finite rate of increase (λ), and intrinsic rate of increase (rm), all showed decreasing trends in aphid populations reared on laminarin‐treated plants. The decline in aphid populations exposed to laminarin seemed to mainly be linked to reduced adult survival, slower nymph development, and lower nymph survival and only marginally to changes in reproduction outcome. Changes in gene expression causing the final production of defence chemicals by peach plants may contribute to explaining the results. However, potential direct effects of laminarin on M. persicae feeding activity and probing behaviour cannot be ruled out. This study provides evidence that, although laminarin did not display insecticidal activity in the short term, this elicitor caused sublethal effects, significantly reducing aphid populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In northern temperate zones, peach trees are vulnerable to cold temperature injury in the fall, particularly as climate change prolongs warm weather in the fall and potentially delays the onset of cold acclimation. Four experiments evaluated how cold acclimation of flower buds and shoot phloem, cambium, and xylem is affected by exposure to varying temperatures in the fall. One-year-old peach shoots from trees grown in Maine, USA, were collected from October through November, exposed to 1, 3, or 6 days of low, high, and freezing temperatures, and subjected to stepwise controlled freezing to about −30 °C. Injury was visually quantified as oxidative browning of flower buds and shoot tissues. High temperature exposure, even of a single day, decreased cold tolerance of flower buds and shoot tissues until late November, when high temperatures only minimally decreased cold hardiness. In mid-November, increasing the duration of high temperature exposure from 1 to 3 days decreased cambium and phloem hardiness, but hardiness in flower buds was not further decreased by the longer duration of 3 days. By late November, hardiness in flower buds, cambium, and phloem was less responsive to high temperature, and was increased by prior exposure to 6 days of freezing. After high temperature, xylem lost hardiness to a small degree in mid-October and late November, but in mid-November this occurred in only one experiment. In this study, deacclimation during high temperature in the fall was greater in cambium and phloem than in flower buds and at times greater than in xylem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is affecting the production of temperate fruit crops. Freeze damage, particularly in spring, has resulted in significant economic losses in peach production in the southeastern United States. Research efforts in peach and other Prunus species have primarily focused on dormancy-related traits associated with bloom time, such as chill and heat requirement, with fruitlet freeze tolerance not equally represented. This study reports fruitlet freeze tolerance in 75 peach and nectarine accessions at six freezing temperatures (0 to −10 °C) using electrolyte leakage method over two seasons (2022–2023). Fruitlet freeze tolerance ranged from −3.9 to −10.2 °C with an estimated freeze damage ranging from 16–48% of fruitlet tissue with the majority of the accessions showing tolerance to cold temperatures in the −4 to −6 °C and 25–35% range. Variability in tolerance was noted across years, including some inconsistencies between tolerance group assignments. Grouping based on the estimated damage showed better stability and some accessions changed their grouping from the extremes to an intermediate tolerance group. Interestingly, nectarine accessions were among the most tolerant in both seasons. Broad-sense heritability of 0.52 and 0.85, estimated for freeze tolerance and % tissue damage, respectively, suggested genetic control of this trait with a potential for improvement via breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Vase system, the most common training system for peach-growing countries for more than a century, light distribution to the canopy is uneven, and access to the canopy for pruning, thinning, and harvest labor is difficult. It is important to identify alternative systems to the Vase system considering the cultivar and growing environment to facilitate labor and enhance productivity and quality. In Türkiye, one of the important centers of peach growing worldwide, detailed research has yet to be published on the applicability of training systems alternative to the widely used Vase system. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different training systems (Vase, Catalan Vase, Quad-V, Tri-V) on growth, yield, fruit quality, and labor costs of peach cultivars (Extreme® 314, Extreme® 436, Extreme® 568). The experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2022. Although the distance between rows in all training systems is 5 m, the distance between trees on the row is determined as 4 m in Vase, 3 m in Catalan Vase, 2.5 m in Quad-V, and 2 m in Tri-V. In the experiment, vegetative development parameters, such as canopy volume, trunk sectional area, and the amount of winter pruning weights, differed according to the training system. In the final year, the Vase system, which produces the most pruning weight, generates 48.0% more pruning weight compared with the Tri-V system, which produces the least. Concerning yield per tree and hectare, trained to the Vase system yielded higher fruit per tree regardless of cultivar, while the Quad-V and Tri-V systems yielded more fruit per hectare. The training system and cultivar affected the fruit size; the largest fruits were obtained from the Extreme® 568 cultivar trained according to the Vase system. The most time needed for winter pruning was obtained from the Vase (79.4 min/tree) system, and the Tri-V (57.4 min/tree) and Quad-V (60.3 min/tree) systems required the least time. The Catalan Vase (31.1 min/tree) system required the least time for summer pruning. The most fruit harvest in an hour was obtained from the trees trained according to the Tri-V (164.5 kg/h) and Quad-V (132.02 kg/h) systems. These results suggest that Quad-V and Catalan Vase systems performed well and could be alternatives to the Vase system.

La mosca del mediterráneo Ceratitis capitata es una plaga que afecta el durazno en el nororiente colombiano. Aunque se han llevado a cabo estudios de caracterización y zonificación del sistema productivo en Boyacá y Norte de Santander, no hay información reciente sobre el conocimiento y manejo de la mosca del mediterráneo en este cultivo. Con el objetivo de identificar las principales características de los productores, manejo de cultivo y de C. capitata, en Boyacá, Santander y Norte de Santander, en 2021 se aplicaron 128 encuestas con 92 preguntas y una tasa de respuesta del 96%, los datos recolectados se sometieron a análisis de correspondencia múltiple y conglomerados. En los análisis se evidenció la conformación de tres grupos o tipologías: GI – Boyacá: zona de menor infestación de mosca, predominan lotes rodeados de durazno, topografía plana y ondulada; productores conocen la plaga, no identifican el daño, no saben calcular el índice Mosca Trampa Día (MTD). GII – Norte de Santander: zona de mayor infestación, predomina la topografía mixta, durazneros y otros caducifolios; cosechan según calendario, no realizan monitoreo, ni control de plagas; saben estimar el MTD, pero no lo usan para manejar la mosca. GIII – Santander: zona de infestación media, plantaciones rodeadas de durazno y otros cultivos; conocen la mosca, el daño, saben calcular MTD y lo utilizan para implementar prácticas de manejo. Estos resultados indican la necesidad de generar estrategias diferenciales para la transferencia de tecnología con el fin de tener una mayor tasa de adopción del manejo integrado de mosca

Cultivation of stone fruit trees in many producing countries is traditionally carried out with low planting density and training in open plant systems (pots). However, the higher density systems and training with more compact mills, for example the 'leading system', have been providing better production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the phenological, vegetative, and productive characteristics of the peach cultivar Della Nona, subjected to various training systems. The work was conducted during two production cycles where three driving systems were evaluated: 'central leader' (5.0 m x 0.8 m, 2,500 plants ha-1), 'Y shape' (5.0 m x 1.5 m, 1,333 plants ha-1) and 'vase' (5.0 m x 3.5 m, 571 plants ha-1). We showed that phenological development was not influenced by the different training systems. The training system 'central leader' gave lower cup size, lower production, but higher productivity. We conclude that the 'central leader' training system adapts to the conditions of the region and shows high productivity for the peach cultivar Della Nona.

Abstract The notorious woody plant-degrading pathogen Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a major causal agent of peach gummosis, one of the prevalent and devastating trunk diseases to peach production; however, its pathogenesis is largely unknown. Our previous study showed that L. theobromae LtGPX3, which encodes a glutathione peroxidase resembling yeast GPX3/HYR1-like, was constantly and dramatically upregulated at the infectious stages. Here, we functionally characterized LtGPX3 using the CRISPR-Cas9-aided split marker approach. The ΔLtgpx3 deletion mutants displayed increased sensitivity to the osmotic stress agent KCl and less sensitivity to the cell wall-damaging agent calcofluor white. Exogenous oxidants highly induced the expression of LtGPX3, and the ΔLtgpx3 mutants displayed increased sensitivity to ROS-generating oxidants. Pathogenicity assays revealed that ΔLtgpx3 mutants showed compromised virulence in peach shoots, which was partially restored when peach shoots were pretreated with an NADPH oxidase inhibitor before inoculation. Moreover, ROS levels were strongly boosted, and transcripts of plant defense-related genes were highly induced in the ΔLtgpx3 mutants-infected peach shoots compared with the wild-type-inoculated. Overall, our results showed the essential roles of LtGPX3 in the oxidative stress response and tolerance and pathological functions in L. theobromae. These findings deepen our understanding of the survival strategies of the woody plant-degrading pathogen L. theobromae and provide new insights into developing new strategies for peach gummosis disease control.

In this study, the objective was to ascertain the optimal extraction method for the recovery of polyphenols from two peach cultivars, namely ‘Andross’ and ‘Everts’, at unripe and ripe stages. Two extraction techniques were explored: conventional extraction and cloud-point extraction (CPE), utilizing various solvents, including water, ethanol, 60% ethanol, and the surfactant Tween 80. Moreover, the conditions of CPE (such as pH, ionic strength, surfactant concentration, etc.) were optimized. To elucidate the antioxidant activity of the extracts, the total polyphenol content (TPC), the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and the DPPH antiradical scavenging were measured. Our findings indicate that CPE is a superior method for polyphenol recovery. Unripe fruits had more antioxidants than ripe ones. Unripe ‘Andross’ fruit has a TPC of 1465.32 mg gallic acid equivalents per kilogram (mg GAE/kg). FRAP and DPPH levels were 7.33 and 5.12 mmol ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE/kg), respectively. With a TPC of 1714.53 mg GAE/kg, the unripe fruit from the ‘Everts’ cultivar has even more antioxidant capacity. Additionally, its FRAP and DPPH values were increased at 8.57 and 6.08 mmol AAE/kg, respectively. These findings underscore the efficacy of CPE as a preferred method for polyphenol extraction while also highlighting the enhanced antioxidant potential of unripe peaches, particularly in the ‘Everts’ cultivar.

Taphrina deformans (Berk/Tul) is a causal agent of peach leaf curl that causes severe deformation of leaves and, in some cases, affects plant fruits and shoots, thereby exerting an adverse effect on tree yield and vitality. It has the potential to cause epidemics. The present study indicated ultrastructural alterations in the mesophyll cells of peach leaves, Fayette cultivar, in response to infection by T. deformans . Pathogen-induced hypertrophy and hyperplasia are associated with the unbalanced growth of the infected cells. Changes in the shape of the mesophyll cells from cylindrically oval to isodiametric were found. A strong destruction of the cell compartments was established in a thin parietal cytoplasm. The degradation of chloroplast membrane structures was significant. The regular shape of the chloroplasts was lost with the appearance of concavities. The middle lamella was expanded and exhibited the presence of T. deformans hyphae provoking those alterations. They contacted the cell wall but did not entirely disrupt it. This study confirms and complements the ultrastructural picture of peach leaf curl in the dynamic plant-host system.

Calcium foliar applications are known to effectively enhance peach quality; however, the optimal implementation strategy regarding fruit developmental stages and cultivars remains unclear. In this study, three different moments of fruit Ca applications in peach and nectarine are tested: Early season, Mid-season, and Late season. For this aim, the 44Ca isotope was used as a tracer, enabling the quantification and location of the Ca derived from the foliar fertilizer. Stone, flesh, and skin 44Ca enrichment was separately analyzed at harvest. The results indicate that Ca absorption in the fruits from external CaCl2 applications was influenced by the timing of the application during fruit development, with Late-season applications proving to be the most effective in increasing the Ca content in the fruit, corresponding with a higher fruit size at the application moment. Nevertheless, no differences in the absorption efficiency were found between the three timings of the application. Furthermore, the Ca from the foliar fertilizer in the fruit predominately remained in the flesh, followed by the skin. The Ca derived from the foliar fertilizer reached the stone in all of the experimental situations, but the Early- and Mid-season applications resulted in the highest amount of Ca derived from the fertilizer in this part of the fruit. Interestingly, the peach exhibited a higher Ca absorption efficiency compared to the nectarine, likely due to the presence of trichomes that retain the foliar fertilizer on the fruit surface. In conclusion, the Ca absorption and distribution in peaches depends on the cultivar and timing of the Ca application.

The notorious woody plant-degrading pathogen Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a major causal agent of peach gummosis, one of the prevalent and devastating trunk diseases to peach production; however, its pathogenesis is largely unknown. Our previous study showed that L. theobromae LtGPX3, which encodes a glutathione peroxidase resembling yeast GPX3/HYR1-like, was constantly and dramatically upregulated at the infectious stages. Here, we functionally characterized LtGPX3 using the CRISPR-Cas9-aided split marker approach. The ΔLtgpx3 deletion mutants displayed increased sensitivity to the osmotic stress agent KCl and less sensitivity to the cell wall-damaging agent calcofluor white. Exogenous oxidants highly induced the expression of LtGPX3, and the ΔLtgpx3 mutants displayed increased sensitivity to ROS-generating oxidants. Pathogenicity assays revealed that ΔLtgpx3 mutants showed compromised virulence in peach shoots, which was partially restored when peach shoots were pretreated with an NADPH oxidase inhibitor before inoculation. Moreover, ROS levels were strongly boosted, and transcripts of plant defense-related genes were highly induced in the ΔLtgpx3 mutants-infected peach shoots compared with the wild-type-inoculated. Overall, our results showed the essential roles of LtGPX3 in the oxidative stress response and tolerance and pathological functions in L. theobromae. These findings deepen our understanding of the survival strategies of the woody plant-degrading pathogen L. theobromae and provide new insights into developing new strategies for peach gummosis disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Although maturity date (MD) is an essential factor affecting fresh fruit marketing and has a pleiotropic effect on fruit taste qualities, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. In this study, we functionally characterized two adjacent NAM‐ATAF1/2‐CUC2 (NAC) transcription factors (TFs), PpNAC1 and PpNAC5, both of which were associated with fruit MD in peach.PpNAC1 and PpNAC5 were found capable of activating transcription of genes associated with cell elongation, cell wall degradation and ethylene biosynthesis, suggesting their regulatory roles in fruit enlargement and ripening.Furthermore, PpNAC1 and PpNAC5 had pleiotropic effects on fruit taste due to their ability to activate transcription of genes for sugar accumulation and organic acid degradation.Interestingly, both PpNAC1 and PpNAC5 orthologues were found in fruit‐producing angiosperms and adjacently arranged in all 91 tested dicots but absent in fruitless gymnosperms, suggesting their important roles in fruit development. Our results provide insight into the regulatory roles of NAC TFs in MD and fruit taste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter (OM) amendments are often encouraged in sustainable agriculture programs but can create heterogeneous soil environments when applied to perennial crops such as peaches (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch). To better understand the responses of peach roots to non-uniform soil conditions, transcriptomic analysis was performed in a split-root study using uniform soil (the same soil type for all roots) or non-uniform soil (different soil types for each half of the root system) from either (1) autoclaved sand (S), (2) autoclaved sand with autoclaved compost (A), or (3) autoclaved sand with compost which included inherent biological soil life (B). Each uniform soil type (S, A, and B) was grouped and compared by uniform and non-uniform soil comparisons for a total of nine treatments. Comparisons revealed peach roots had differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and gene ontology terms between soil groups, with the S and B groups having a range of 106–411 DEGs and the A group having a range of 19–94 DEGs. Additionally, six modules were identified and correlated (p > 0.69) for six of the nine treatment combinations. This study broadly highlights the complexity of how OM and biological life in the rhizosphere interact with immediate and distant roots and sheds light on how non-homogenous soil conditions can influence peach root gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concomitant evaluation of physicochemical properties and development of important diseases, such as brown rot in peaches postharvest, is hampered by the use of destructive methods for physicochemical analysis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics in wounded and unwounded 'Chimarrita' and 'Maciel' peaches inoculated with M. fructicola assessed by non-destructive methods. The fruits were stored at room temperature (25 ºC) for 10 days after harvest. Colorimeter, near-infrared spectroscopy and portable spectrophotometer DA-meter® (single index of absorbance difference, IAD index) were used to evaluate the physicochemical changes that naturally occurred in peaches during postharvest and due to pathogen development on the same fruit simultaneously. Incidence and severity of brown rot were evaluated by counting the number of lesions resulting from inoculation at 24, 48 and 60 h post inoculation. Also, the sporulation of M. fructicola on fruit surface was evaluated. The results indicated that differences between wounded and unwounded fruits related soluble solids content, pulp firmness, titratable acidity, dry matter and IAD did not affect the incidence of M. fructicola in both cultivars. However, the interaction between dry matter and colour at the time of inoculation influenced colonisation and consequent lesion size in inoculated wounded 'Chimarrita' fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Class III peroxidases are plant-specific and play a key role in the response to biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as in plant growth and development. In this study, we investigated 60 POD genes from Prunus persica based on genomic and transcriptomic data available in NCBI and analysed the expression of individual genes with qPCR. Peroxidase genes were clustered into five subgroups using the phylogenetic analysis. Their exon–intron structure and conserved motifs were analysed. Analysis of the transcriptomic data showed that the expression of PpPOD genes varied significantly in different tissues, at different developmental stages and under different stress treatments. All genes were divided into low- and high-expressed genes, and the most highly expressed genes were identified for individual tissues (PpPOD12 and PpPOD42 in flower buds and PpPOD73, PpPOD12, PpPOD42, and PpPOD31 in fruits). The relationship between cold tolerance and the level of peroxidase expression was revealed. These studies were carried out for the first time in the peach and confirmed that chilling tolerance may be related to the specificity of antioxidant complex gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the desired traits in rootstocks for stone fruits is tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as water deficit, which is one of the factors associated to peach tree short life syndrome that constitutes one of the main agronomic problems in Rio Grande do Sul's peach cultivation. This research aimed to discern the rootstock that best sustain water status and influences proline synthesis regulation in seven-year-old 'BRS-Kampai' peach trees grown non-irrigated sandy soil during the post-harvest period. Stem water potential in 'BRS-Kampai' peach trees was distinctly affected by the choice of rootstock, revealing heightened sensitivity to soil moisture depletion and atmospheric vapor pressure deficit escalation. When confronted with reduced gravimetric soil moisture (<7.0%), 'BRS-Kampai' peach trees grafted onto Clone 15 (Prunusmume) exhibited less negative stem water potential and higher leaf proline content, indicative of physiological adjustment to edaphoclimatic conditions. Conversely, 'BRS-Kampai' peach trees graffet onto 'Flordaguard' displayed increased vegetative growth. Notably, 'BRS-Kampai' own-rooted trees exhibited stem growth, leaf proline contents, and stem water potential similar to those of peach trees grafted onto 'Capdeboscq', thereby demonstrating robust adaptation to prevailing edaphoclimatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the objective was to ascertain the optimal extraction method for the recovery of polyphenols from two peach cultivars, namely 'Andross' and 'Everts', at unripe and ripe stages. Two extraction techniques were explored: conventional extraction and cloud-point extraction (CPE), utilizing various solvents, including water, ethanol, 60% ethanol, and the surfactant Tween 80. Moreover, the conditions of CPE (such as pH, ionic strength, surfactant concentration, etc.) were optimized. To elucidate the antioxidant activity of the extracts, the total polyphenol content (TPC), the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and the DPPH antiradical scavenging were measured. Our findings indicate that CPE is a superior method for polyphenol recovery. Unripe fruits had more antioxidants than ripe ones. Unripe 'Andross' fruit has a TPC of 1465.32 mg gallic acid equivalents per kilogram (mg GAE/kg). FRAP and DPPH levels were 7.33 and 5.12 mmol ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE/kg), respectively. With a TPC of 1714.53 mg GAE/kg, the unripe fruit from the 'Everts' cultivar has even more antioxidant capacity. Additionally, its FRAP and DPPH values were increased at 8.57 and 6.08 mmol AAE/kg, respectively. These findings underscore the efficacy of CPE as a preferred method for polyphenol extraction while also highlighting the enhanced antioxidant potential of unripe peaches, particularly in the 'Everts' cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article introduces 'Whitewater,' the seventh fresh-market peach released from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture breeding program. It is a low-acid freestone peach with white, slow-melting flesh, early ripening, and high resistance to bacterial spot. Topics include its origin, development, characteristics, and performance in comparison trials, emphasizing its potential as an early-season white peach option for growers in specific climatic conditions.

The ripening time of peach cultivars is genetically determined, but it is greatly influenced by environmental factors. Prediction of ripening time is very useful from a scientific point of view and for practice as well. Generally, the sum of temperature and the days from flowering to ripening are used for prediction. Our work examined the phenological characteristics of 50 peach cultivars for 26 years in our experimental plantations in the central part of Hungary. We found that the number of days from flowering to ripening and the heat units (temperature sum units) vary greatly from year to year, so these values are not suitable for accurate prediction of the ripening time of cultivars. From a practical point of view, using reference cultivars is more effective for growers. The gradual shift towards earlier ripening time is proved during 26 years. Depending on the cultivar, the starting date of ripening of the investigated peach cultivars was 0.28 to 0.36 days earlier each year in our experimental plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In northern temperate zones, peach trees are vulnerable to cold temperature injury in the fall, particularly as climate change prolongs warm weather in the fall and potentially delays the onset of cold acclimation. Four experiments evaluated how cold acclimation of flower buds and shoot phloem, cambium, and xylem is affected by exposure to varying temperatures in the fall. One-year-old peach shoots from trees grown in Maine, USA, were collected from October through November, exposed to 1, 3, or 6 days of low, high, and freezing temperatures, and subjected to stepwise controlled freezing to about −30 °C. Injury was visually quantified as oxidative browning of flower buds and shoot tissues. High temperature exposure, even of a single day, decreased cold tolerance of flower buds and shoot tissues until late November, when high temperatures only minimally decreased cold hardiness. In mid-November, increasing the duration of high temperature exposure from 1 to 3 days decreased cambium and phloem hardiness, but hardiness in flower buds was not further decreased by the longer duration of 3 days. By late November, hardiness in flower buds, cambium, and phloem was less responsive to high temperature, and was increased by prior exposure to 6 days of freezing. After high temperature, xylem lost hardiness to a small degree in mid-October and late November, but in mid-November this occurred in only one experiment. In this study, deacclimation during high temperature in the fall was greater in cambium and phloem than in flower buds and at times greater than in xylem.

Abstract Traditional peach production regions provide adequate chill for satisfactorily bud’s flower break dormancy, in cultivars there developed. However, considering the expansion of the orchards in mild winter areas and the expected global trends to warmer conditions, the local development of cultivars became relevant. Based on this background, this study proposed to evaluate the performance of 33 peach and nectarine cultivars and selections in mild winter climate. Features associated to the vegetative development, phenology, productivity and fruit characteristics were measured in nine seasons, and the data analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance. Significant correlations between features were remarked. The Pillai and F tests presented significant results, highlighting significant differences among cultivars for almost all features. Peach and nectarine genotypes showed genetic diversity that may be accessed for use as cultivars, or parental for crosses. ‘IAC Aurora 1’, ‘IAC Aurora 2’, ‘IAC Centenário’, ‘IAC Douradão’, ‘IAC Jóia4’, ‘IAC Ouromel 3’, ‘IAC Régis’, ‘Diamante’, ‘Eldorado’, ‘FlordaPrince’, ‘Premier’ and ‘Tropic Beauty’ were the cultivars with the best results. A large number of selections showed promising results, emphasizing, the ‘IAC 680-177’, ‘IAC 1085-27’, ‘IAC 785-9’, ‘IAC 2982-31’, ‘IAC 4682-45’and ‘IAC 6882-84’.

The phenomena of global warming has led to an increase in the average air temperature in temperate climates. Springtime frost damage is becoming more common, and after a period of dormancy, damage to buds, blooms, and developing fruits is greater significant than damage from low winter temperatures. Peaches are a crucial crop among moderate fruits. Spring frost damage in peaches can have a negative effect on crop growth, yield, and quality. It is noteworthy that these plants have evolved defenses against spring frost damage while being exposed to a variety of low temperatures in the early spring. In this current review, recent research advancements on spring frost damage avoidance in peaches were deliberated. Additionally, adaptive mechanisms of peach, such as deacclimation and reacclimation, were emphasized. Moreover, the emerging advancements using various omics approaches revealed the peach physiology and molecular mechanisms comprehensively. Furthermore, the use of chemical products and understanding the spring frost mechanisms through the use of environmental chamber temperature stimulation and infrared thermography studies were also discussed. This review is essential groundwork and paves the way to derive and design future research for agronomists and horticulturalists to overcome the challenges of spring frost damage avoidance and crop management in these circumstances.

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni’ is the causative agent of X-disease on peach (Prunus persica) trees. Infected trees exhibit premature yellowing, leaf necrosis causing a shot-hole appearance, limb dieback, and eventual death. How pathogen infection leads to these symptoms is unknown. This study undertook a modern characterization of the disease by assessing the physiological and transcriptomic consequences of phytoplasma infection. Phytoplasma titer was high in the symptomatic tissues and undetected or low in asymptomatic tissues. Symptomatic leaves had a significant decrease in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids. Transcriptomic analysis showed alterations in genes related to phytohormone synthesis and signaling, circadian rhythms, lignification, and sugar synthesis and transport. Several transcripts that might be related to symptom development were identified. Collectively, these data give a much clearer picture of symptom development in ‘Ca. P. pruni’-infected P. persica and provide several avenues for further research in determining how ‘Ca. P. pruni’ interacts with its host to elicit the observed symptoms. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

ABSTRACTPeach and apple flowers were evaluated for their human nutritional value by obtaining baseline information on their contents of bioactive compounds, minerals and antioxidant capacity. We used simple random sampling and nested statistical analysis to examine flowers of three peach cultivars (“July Flame,” “Cary Mac” and “Fair Time”) and two crab apple cultivars (“Manchurian” and “John Downie”). Flowers of “John Downie” stood out for their high contents of ash, protein and crude fat. Carbohydrate contents were highest for “Fair Time” and “Cary Mac.” Peach and apple differed in their contents of total phenols (73.23 ± 1.94 mg GAE/g peach and 86.65 ± 1.18 mg GAE/g, apple) and total flavonoids (TFl) (5.29 ± 0.10 mg QE/100 g peach and 7.99 ± 0.3 mg QE/100 g apple). The peach cultivar “Fair Time” and the crab apple cultivars “Manchurian” and “John Downie” showed the highest values of K+ and Mg2+. Micronutrient concentrations differed between species, however, Zn2+ and Na+ values were similar among species but differed between cultivars. Antioxidant capacity showed inter-species variations with the methods ABTS and FRAP. The results indicate a good potential for both peach and apple flowers to be incorporated in the human diet, for fresh consumption as functional foods.

The article focuses on the introduction of 'Sweet Queen', a new nectarine cultivar developed through a breeding program in the Republic of Korea, with an emphasis on addressing consumer preferences for low acidity and high sweetness. Topics discussed include the breeding process, fruit characteristics, and evaluation of 'Sweet Queen' compared to other nectarine cultivars, highlighting its potential as a promising addition to the market due to its desirable traits.

Nectarines can be affected by many diseases, resulting in significant production losses. Natural products, such as essential oils (EOs), are promising alternatives to pesticides to control storage rots. This work aimed to test the efficacy of biofumigation with EOs in the control of nectarine postharvest diseases while also evaluating the effect on the quality parameters (firmness, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity) and on the fruit fungal microbiome. Basil, fennel, lemon, oregano, and thyme EOs were first tested in vitro at 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0% concentrations to evaluate their inhibition activity against Monilinia fructicola. Subsequently, an in vivo screening trial was performed by treating nectarines inoculated with M. fructicola, with the five EOs at 2.0% concentration by biofumigation, performed using slow-release diffusers placed inside the storage cabinets. Fennel, lemon, and basil EOs were the most effective after storage and were selected to be tested in efficacy trials using naturally infected nectarines. After 28 days of storage, all treatments showed a significant rot reduction compared to the untreated control. Additionally, no evident phytotoxic effects were observed on the treated fruits. EO vapors did not affect the overall quality of the fruits but showed a positive effect in reducing firmness loss. Metabarcoding analysis showed a significant impact of tissue, treatment, and sampling time on the fruit microbiome composition. Treatments were able to reduce the abundance of Monilinia spp., but basil EO favored a significant increase in Penicillium spp. Moreover, the abundance of other fungal genera was found to be modified.

La investigación centró su objetivo en proponer acciones participativas de los actores locales para la producción de Prunus pérsica (melocotón) en huertos familiares de la comunidad Surí, municipio Guane. Se seleccionaron 36 actores locales a partir de un muestreo intencional para conocer su percepción en cuanto al manejo y beneficio de este frutal. Por otra parte, se realizó tratamiento pre germinativo (escarificación mecánica) a cincuenta semillas, de las cuales se obtuvieron 42 plántulas en un micro vivero, posteriormente fueron trasplantadas en huertos familiares y se les realizó mediciones de altura semanalmente durante un mes. Los métodos utilizados para la investigación fueron: diagnóstico rápido participativo, medición y observación científica y participativa. La entrevista en profundidad y el cuestionario se utilizaron para recoger los datos a los actores. Los resultados más importantes fueron: aceptación de los actores locales para producir la especie; fortalezas y debilidades para su producción; alto porcentaje de germinación de las semillas; las plantas alcanzaron la altura óptima para trasplantar a los 33 días; el crecimiento promedio después de trasplante durante el primer mes fue de 4,5 cm por semana. Se elaboraron acciones para la producción y manejo de la especie. De manera general, se concluye que los actores locales mostraron un marcado interés por producir la especie, aun cuando no conocen su manejo; el método de pre germinación por escarificación mecánica utilizado resultó eficiente.