S11 - Session P1 - Evaluation of low-chill peach (Prunus persica L.) cultivars suitable for arid climate of southern Tunisia

Authors: Ines Toumi *, Samir Tlahig, Kamel Nagaz

The warm climate of the southern part of Tunisian zones is very appropriate for the cultivation of peach tree (Prunus persica L.) by offering a very precocious production. In recent years, the growing zones has been extended through the use of many low chilling cultivars for peach trees. This study aimed to evaluate a suitable peach cultivar in the warm and arid Tunisian areas by monitoring six peach cultivars: Plawite10, Sagittaria, UFO3, UFO4, Plagold 25 and Blanvio 10. Trees were cultivated on two different sites of Tataouine, Tunisa, (34°56'0.38"N; 10°36'50"E and 33°03'54 ''N ;10°29'22''E) with an annual mean temperature of 22.5C, annual means of minimum and maxim values um temperature of 7.8 and 36.6°C, respectively (2019) and annual precipitation of 132 mm. The data showed that the full bloom dates were started in February and ended in mid-April. The bloom rate values of the cultivars were average 90%. The mean fruit set was around 85%. Maturing period was overlapping between late April and early June. Plawhite 10 was the very earliest cultivar. The highest yield was obtained by Plagold 25 cultivar due to its biggest fruits and high level of crop load. The soluble solid content of 'UFO3' and 'UFO4' peaches was over 15 °Brix for two production sites. The fruits of UFO4 cultivar were very juicy. Plawhite 10 and Blanvio 10 were the most suitable cultivars recommended for warm and arid Tunisian areas for their precocity degrees. The other cultivars were also suitable for peach orchard development in this regions.