Detailed Introduction to the New Peach Variety Ruiguang 22

1. Variety Origin

Ruiguang 22 (90-6-11) was produced by the Institute of Forestry and Pomology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences in 1990 through sexual hybridization using Liguangte as the female parent and 82-48-12 (Qiuyu x NJN80) as the male parent. It was developed in 2000 and approved by the Beijing Municipal Variety Approval Committee in 2001.

2. Variety Characteristics

This variety has a vigorous tree habit and a semi-spreading tree posture. One-year-old branches are reddish-brown on the sunny side and green on the shaded side. Leaves are lanceolate, slightly concave inward on the leaf surface, with leaf tips slightly rolled outward and an acute wedge-shaped leaf base; the leaf margin is purely serrate; nectaries are kidney-shaped, mostly 2 in number. Flowers are rosette-shaped, petals ovate, pink in color; anthers are orange-red, with abundant pollen; the inner wall of the calyx tube is orange-yellow. The pistil is higher than the stamens. The fruit is short oval in shape, with an average single fruit weight of 150 g and a large fruit weight of 196 g. The fruit apex is round and flat, the suture line is shallow, and the stem cavity is moderately deep and wide. The ground color of the fruit skin is yellow, and the fruit surface is nearly fully covered with a red blush interspersed with fine dots, turning purplish-red when fully ripe. The fruit skin is moderately thick, not easy to peel, and prone to fruit cracking. The flesh is yellow, with the same color near the stone and no red. The flesh texture is firm-melting, fine, sweet in flavor, and aromatic. The stone is light brown, large, semi-clinging, and does not split. The soluble solids content is 11%, Vc 8.09 mg/100 g flesh, soluble sugars 7.39%, organic acids 0.37%, and the sugar-to-acid ratio is approximately 20:1.

Ruiguang 22 is an early-maturing yellow, intensely red-type sweet nectarine. In the Beijing area, it generally buds in late March, reaches full bloom in mid-April, and ripens in early July, with a fruit development period of about 73 days. The average single fruit weight is 150 g, and the large fruit weight is 196 g. It has strong productivity; 3-year-old trees average 500 kg per mu, and trees in full bearing average more than 2000 kg per mu.

3. Key Points of Cultivation Techniques

(1) Based on the principle of both favoring early high yield and facilitating later management, the three-main-branch natural open-center training system can be planted at a spacing of 3 x 5 or 4 x 5 m, and the "Y" training system can be planted at a spacing of 2 x 5 m.

(2) Because it matures early, in addition to applying more organic fertilizer in autumn, early fertilizer and water supply should be especially strengthened. Tree nutrition should be supplemented in time before flowering and during the fruit enlargement stage. Before flowering, nitrogen fertilizer should be dominant, while during the enlargement stage, quick-acting nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers should be used in combination to promote fruit enlargement and improve fruit quality.

(3) Young trees have strong growth vigor, so summer pruning should be strengthened to moderate tree vigor. After entering the fruiting stage, if excessive vegetative growth occurs, the coloring of fruit inside the canopy and in the lower part will be poor and the flavor will be bland. Therefore, the extension angle of large branches should not be too wide, generally 60 degrees is appropriate, to prevent water sprouts from emerging on the upper side. At the same time, strictly control the occurrence of leader shoots on main branches and water sprouts in the inner canopy, improve ventilation and light penetration conditions, and promote fruit coloring and flower bud differentiation.

(4) Strengthen flower and fruit management. This variety has a high fruit-setting rate, so fruit should be thinned reasonably, which is beneficial for increasing fruit size and improving quality. Yield should be controlled at 2000 kg/mu. Because insufficient light affects fruit coloring, leaf removal and branch thinning can be used to increase fruit coloring.

(5) In greenhouse cultivation, note that the temperature during the flowering period should not be too high or too low, with a day-night temperature of 10-20 degrees being appropriate, and the temperature during the fruit growth period should preferably be between 20-30 degrees. Low temperature or insufficient light will prolong the fruit development period.

4. Suitable Planting Areas: Suitable for cultivation in the Beijing area.