PEACH: ORIGIN, CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, BENEFITS, CARE - BIOLOGY - 2025

The peach or peach (Prunus persica) is a temperate fruit species belonging to the Rosáceae family. Its specific name (persica) places its origin in ancient Persia, even though its genetic variability confirms its origin in China.

This species is a curved and highly branched deciduous tree with stems that reach 8 m in height. With lanceolate, alternate leaves and serrated edges, it has abundant axillary flowers of pinkish or white tones.

Prunus persica. Source: Viethavvh

Its fruit, the world-famous peach or peach, is a fleshy drupe with a pleasant flavor and aroma. In commercial varieties they are usually large, juicy and fragrant, but in ornamental varieties they are small and compact.

Its growing area is restricted by environmental conditions, requiring environments with particular temperatures. It demands low temperatures, but it does not tolerate frost, and in summer it requires high temperatures that favor the ripening of the fruits.

Currently, the peach is the fruit species with the largest number of cultivars and varieties marketed worldwide. These come mostly from breeding programs and genetic selection carried out in the USA.

In this regard, commercial peach production ranks third globally, preceded by apples and pears. In recent years, its production has doubled due to the use of patterns and varieties better adapted to intertropical climates, from America and Europe.

Origin

The Prunus persica species is native to China, where evidence of its cultivation has been discovered for more than 4,000 years. From China, the peach tree was introduced into Persia via the Silk Road, and from there it went to Greece around 400-300 BC. C.

During the 1st and 2nd centuries d. C. the cultivation spread through the Roman Empire, and later to Spain. In the 16th century it was introduced by the Portuguese and Spanish in South America, Mexico, Florida and all of North America.

Propagation by seeds was the main means of multiplication in Europe and the USA during the 19th century, as well as in South and Central America in the mid-20th century. This being the main reason for the great variety of cultivars adapted to various agroecological conditions.

In their place of origin (China, Taiwan and Thailand), the great expansion of cultivars allowed the creation of germplasm adapted to intertropical climates. These have been the varieties introduced in the mid-70s in Florida, South America, North Africa, and Southern Europe.

China is the world's largest producer and reservoir of native peach and peach germplasm. Beijing, Nanjing and Zhengzhou provinces are the places where the largest number of wild varieties and patterns are located.

General characteristics

Morphology

The peach tree is a deciduous tree species that can reach 6-8 m in height. It has lanceolate, elliptical or oblong leaves, slightly acuminate, with a glabrous texture and glandular teeth, as well as denticulate stipules.

The flowers with numerous bracts are arranged in pairs or singly. They are characterized by the petals toothed at the ends, of a strong pink color, straight and whole sepals, with glabrous or pubescent ovaries.

The fruit is a globular drupe 4-8 cm in diameter covered by a yellow and aromatic fleshy mesocarp, with velvety and edible skin. Inside the fruit the seed is located protected by a strongly ribbed bony endocarp of brown color.

Prunus persica flowers. Source: pixabay.com

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae.

- Division: Magnoliophyta.

- Class: Magnoliopsida.

- Order: Rosales.

- Family: Rosaceae.

- Subfamily: Amygdaloideae.

- Tribe: Amygdaleae.

- Genus: Prunus.

- Species: Prunus persica (L.) Stokes, 1812 non Batsch, 1801.

Habitat and distribution

The peach tree is a tree adapted to temperate climate ecosystems originally enabled for deep and loose soils. However, it is currently grown on a wide range of soils, including some heavy and clayey, as well as sandy and arid soils.

It is a tree that has a useful life or effective production of 8-10 years. Generally the plantations are renewed and replaced by new cultivars adapted to the local conditions of each plantation.

The peach tree is tolerant to frost and requires cold winter conditions for its optimal development, conditions that are often not obtained in subtropical climates. However, varieties and cultivars with low cold requirements have now been developed.

During the summer the plant needs temperatures between 20-25ºC that favor the development of new shoots. In this way, the growth of the plant, the flowering and ripening of the fruits are increased.

Its cultivation is distributed throughout Southern Europe, in Spain, France, Italy and Greece, including Turkey and Israel. It is also located in South America and North America, North Africa (Morocco) and Asia, including its place of origin in China.

Health benefits

Nutritional aspects

The peach fruit has a high percentage of fibers and carotenoids, associated with its high water content (85%). It is ideal for maintaining diets and weight loss diets, due to its low caloric level and high carbohydrate content.

The peach has vitamins A, B ₁, B ₂, B ₆ and C, and the minerals sulfur, calcium, chlorine, copper, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, manganese and potassium. In addition to b-caronet and natural antioxidants such as citric acid, nicotinic acid, malic acid and pantothenic acid.

Nutritionists recommend the consumption of fresh peaches to strengthen bone and muscle tissues, as well as the nervous system in young people and children. In addition, this fruit has digestive and laxative properties, regulating intestinal transit and relieving constipation.

Fruits of Prunus persica. Source: pixabay.com

Medicinal aspects

On a medicinal level, the peach is a fruit recommended to improve vision, give resistance to hair and nails, heal mucous membranes and strengthen bones and teeth. It is recommended to combat stress and relieve inflammation in joints or gout.

On the other hand, there is scientific evidence that guarantees the benefit of peaches on the nervous system, preventing cardiovascular and degenerative disorders. In the same way, it contributes to the regulation of the immune system, controlling the levels of glucose in the blood and cholesterol.

Its frequent consumption protects the intestinal walls avoiding the formation of ulcers, since it regulates the harmful effect of free radicals. Thanks to its high content of carotenoids, vitamin C and selenium, peaches are considered an excellent antioxidant.

From a digestive point of view, peach is a light food that supports the digestive function of the liver. In this sense, it contributes to the production of bile, also facilitating the absorption and breakdown of fats.

The peach is a choleretic fruit, since it activates the production of bile during liver function, helping to improve biliary insufficiency. On the other hand, peach juice has acidic and diuretic properties, being used to dissolve gallstones and kidney stones.

Similarly, the peach has laxative properties, which is why it is effective in relieving constipation. In general, the peach fruit is considered one of the main essential foods to stay healthy.

Applications

The peach plant takes advantage of both the leaves, the bark and the flowers, as well as the fruits and seeds. Indeed, infusions of leaves, bark and flowers are recommended to expel intestinal parasites, relieve chest pain and relieve constipation.

The peach is attributed various medicinal properties such as diuretic, laxative, astringent and sedative. In traditional medicine, the decoction of the leaves is used as a home remedy to combat rashes or eczema on the skin, and hemorrhoids.

Likewise, it is used to combat the symptoms of malaria. However, care must be taken with the seeds, as they contain cyanogenic glycosides with a toxic effect that can be harmful to health.

The peach is a highly desirable fruit for fresh consumption and as a raw material for the production of preserves, nectars and juices. On the other hand, it is used for the preparation of cakes and desserts, as in the distillation of liqueurs and peach spirits.

Peach blossoms are used as salad dressings and garnishes. In addition, canned peaches in syrup are one of the most requested desserts in supermarkets.

Tender fruits of Prunus persica. Source: pixabay.com

The peach fruit is a very digestible food, with great contributions of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers. In fact, the highest concentration of nutrients is located on the skin, so it is recommended to wash it and eat it directly without peeling.

Care

Sowing

Commercial peach plantation requires full sun exposure and sufficient spacing to ensure good aeration, in order to allow cool air to circulate at night and keep the crop cool during the summer.

The best season to establish the crop is early winter. Thus, in this period the roots have time to fix themselves to nourish the shoots that are produced in spring.

Fertilization

Obtaining optimal production in a peach crop requires high doses of fertilizer, mainly nitrogen fertilizers during the flowering stage. The agronomic management of the crop requires frequent applications of chemical fertilizers with a high content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Likewise, it is convenient to make a supplementary contribution of organic compost based on composted bovine manure at the end of each harvest. In crops with localized or drip irrigation, fertilization can be done by fractional fertigation during the spring and summer months.

In the case of rainfed planting associated with flood irrigation, two or three fertilizations are convenient. In this regard, one is carried out during spring and two during summer, and it is recommended to apply 80-140 UF of N, 50-60 UF of P and 100-140 UF of K.

Types of irrigation

The peach tree requires continuous watering, which should be increased 15 to 30 days before harvest. Drip irrigation is the best way to work with this crop: the fruits with the best aroma and flavor are obtained from fields with permanent irrigation.

The pipes of the drip irrigation system are distributed in the field throughout the crop, maintaining a separation of 80-120 cm. The amount of water varies according to the type of soil and environmental conditions, with a frequent flow of 2-3 m ³ / Ha with a pressure of 1-1.5 atm.

In loose and dry soils, constant watering ensures uniformity, productivity and quality of the fruits. Being the annual water requirements of 2,500-4,000 m ³ / Ha during the vegetative period.

In case of using flood, furrow or blanket irrigation, the effective irrigation depth is 80 cm deep. The volume of water for this method ranges from 10,000-12,000 m ³ / Ha, mainly to obtain a commercial size of the fruit in late cultivars.

Sprinkler irrigation is used according to the type of terrain, being suitable in those areas with high temperatures during the summer. In fact, this type of irrigation favors the growth and development of the root system, although sometimes it increases the incidence of pathogens.

Ripe peach fruits. Source: fir0002 flagstaffotos gmail.com Canon 20D + Tamron 28-75mm f / 2.8

Pruning

The peach plant requires a formation pruning to promote growth, as well as enhance flowering and fruit production. There are two types of training pruning: glass or palm. Both are labor intensive and tend to delay the start of production.

Other systems used in plantations of medium and high densities, are the pruning in free palmette, ypsilon and fusseto. The simple palm represents a lower production cost, increases the initial production and green pruning is necessary.

Ypsilon pruning increases the earliness of the crop and its initial production, and green pruning is essential. The fusseto system is used in high densities, it is very productive, and requires low maintenance, but it is difficult to control in the long term.

The trend in peach cultivation is to use dwarfing patterns of cherry or plum. This has the objective of obtaining vigorous plants, of high production and of manageable foliar structure.

Regeneration pruning is carried out when the plant has suffered mechanical damage or there is an incidence of pests or diseases. In this regard, 60-75% of branches and foliage are eliminated, being necessary to subsequently apply macro and micronutrients that promote new shoots.

Harvest

It is not advisable to leave all the fruits on the peach tree, since they will be of smaller size and quality, lacking aroma and flavor. To avoid this situation, an agronomic practice called "thinning" or "thinning" is carried out, which consists of eliminating certain fruits from the plant.

Thus, with thinning, those set fruits smaller than 3 cm in diameter that show less vigor or symptoms of weakness are selected. In some plantations, thinning is carried out in the flowering season, eliminating closely grouped flowers to replace the set fruits.

With this practice, the greater the number of fruits set or flowers removed, the larger the size, aroma and flavor will be obtained. When applying this method it is essential to maintain the irrigation in dry conditions to promote the growth of the fruit.

Plagues and diseases

Pests

Anarsia (

The larva of this lepidopteran is the cause of damage to leaves and buds, undermining the tender shoots and causing their wilting. In addition, it causes the deformation of the newly formed buds, and often causes deterioration in the fruits.

Red spider (

The mincers on the leaves caused by this pest produce ocher colored spots, causing the deformation of the leaflets and plant tissues. The control is carried out with chemical pesticides in order to eliminate eggs and adults of the species.

Oriental peach moth (

The larva of this small brown-gray butterfly is a 10 mm long yellowish-pink worm. It is considered a harmful pest for peaches, as it damages the buds and young fruits.

Aphids

The main aphids that affect peaches are Myzus persicae (green peach aphid), Hyalopterus pruni (cottony peach aphid) and Brachycaudus persicae (black peach aphid). Most of the lesions of these insects affect buds, shoots, leaves, flowers and fruits.

Detail of the flowers. Source: by Fir0002

Diseases

Dent (

Symptoms appear on leaves, which take on a dented or flattened appearance, generally along the veins. As the attack increases, the dents expand on the surface of the blade, taking on a reddish color.

The damage can cause the deformation of shoots and buds, the abortion of the flowers and that the fruits do not set. The control is carried out by applying a copper-based product.

Moniliosis (

Symptoms usually appear on leaves, buds, flowers and fruits, causing cankers or cancerous exudations that cause tissue death. Damage manifests itself when environmental conditions present high relative humidity.

The fruits develop a brown mycelium on which grayish granulations develop. The control is carried out by eliminating the sources of contamination, control of disease vectors, regulation of environmental humidity and maintenance chemical controls.

Powdery mildew (

The attack manifests as a compact white powder that covers the foliar area at the nursery level or in fragile plantations. Later the shoots tend to deform and dry out, premature defoliation occurs and the fruits crack longitudinally.

High temperatures, humidity and poor ventilation are suitable conditions for the development of this disease. The best control is crop management, eliminating diseased shoots, clarifying affected fruits, regulating irrigation and using resistant patterns.

References

1. Durazno (2017) Fruit and Vegetable Bulletin of the INTA-CMCBA Agreement No. 70. Central Market Corporation of Buenos Aires. 15 pp.
2. Font i Forcada, C. (2012). Agronomic evaluation and study of the quality of the fruit in peach trees. Variability and genetics of association.
3. Gratacós, E. (2004). The cultivation of the peach Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile.
4. Technical Guide for Peach Cultivation (2018) IICA-Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. National Fruit Program of El Salvador.
5. Gutiérrez-Acosta, F., Padilla-Ramírez, JS, & Reyes-Muro, L. (2008). Phenology, production and fruit characteristics of peach selections (Prunus persica L. Batsch.) Ana in Aguascalientes. Chapingo Magazine. Horticulture series, 14 (1), 23-32.
6. Peach tree. Prunus persica (2018) Region of Murcia Digital. Recovered at: regmurcia.com
7. Prunus persica. (2019). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
8. Reig Córdoba, G. (2013). Selection of new peach varieties based on agronomic, morphological, quality and fruit conservation characteristics (Doctoral dissertation, Universitat de Lleida).
9. Reta, AJ & González M. (2011) Pruning, thinning and fertilization in peach trees (Prunus persica -L-Batsch) for industry. National Institute of Agricultural Technology.