ARS | Publication request: Peach

Submitted to: Handbook of Transgenic Plants
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: August 2, 2007
Publication Date: November 10, 2008
Citation: Petri, C., Scorza, R. 2008. Peach. In: Kole, C., Hall, T.C., editors. Handbook of Transgenic Plants. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing. p. 79-92.

Technical Abstract: The peach (Prunus persica) is the most commercially valuable species in the genus. Peaches are subject to a number of biotic and abiotic stress factors including diseases, insect pests, and cold temperatures. There are relatively few good sources of resistance genes in the presently available germplasm, therefore, genetic engineering presents a viable and potentially important adjunct to traditional breeding approaches for peach improvement. Genetic transformation (genetic engineering) generally requires the ability to regenerate peach plants from peach tissues and the ability to insert genes into the regenerating tissue to produce transgenic or genetically engineered plants. While peach regeneration has been reported, rates are relatively low. Transformation is not routine and has been only reported twice with only a few genetically engineered plants produced in total. While genetic information is becoming available through genomics research and this work will provide genetic resources for genetic engineering, the technology for genetic engineering of peach requires additional research and development.