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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #158742
Title: NOTICE TO FRUIT GROWERS AND NURSERYMEN RELATIVE TO THE NAMING AND RELEASE OF GULFKING PEACH.

Author
item Beckman, Thomas
item KREWER, GERARD - UGA
item SHERMAN, WAYNE - UNIV. OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Cultivar Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Release
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/22/2004
Publication Date: 2/20/2004
Citation: Beckman, T.G., Krewer, G.W., Sherman, W.B. 2004. Notice to fruit growers and nurserymen relative to the naming and release of gulfking peach. USDA, Agricultural Resesarch Service, Cultivar Release.

Interpretive Summary: This is a Germplasm Release, no Interpretive Summary Required.

Technical Abstract: The Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the University of Georgia, and the University of Florida jointly announce the naming and release of the peach cultivar Gulfking, previously tested as AP98-4. Gulfking originated from a 1995 cross of BY87P285 x UFGold and was selected and propagated in 1998 at the University of Georgia Research and Extension Center in Attapulgus, Ga. BY87P285 originated from a cross of Sunprince x Majestic. Gulfking is a non-melting type peach selection developed for the early season peach shipping industry. Fruit ripen 73-80 days from full bloom, typically in early May, usually with Flordaking in southern Georgia. The fruit are large, ranging from 105 to 130 grams (61 to 65 millimeters in diameter). Commercially ripe fruit exhibit 80-90 percent red (with moderately fine darker red stripes) over a deep yellow to orange ground color. Fruit shape is round with a recessed tip. The flesh contains some red pigment flecks in the outer flesh on the sun-exposed side of the fruit. There is no red in the flesh at the pit. Flesh is firm with good sweetness and does not brown readily on bruised or cut surfaces. Flesh is clingy to the pit even when fully ripe. Pits are medium small and have little tendency to split even when crop loads are low. Leaves have small reniform glands. Flowers are showy and pink. Anthers are light red and pollen is bright yellow and abundant. Trees bloom with Flordaking peach, requiring about 350 hours of chilling below 7C (45F) to break the bud rest period. Gulfking has fruited well in areas where the mean daily temperature of the coldest month averages 13 to 14C. Best adaptation would be for areas and sites where Flordaking has proven reliable in production.