Introduction to Laixuan No.1, a new high-quality mid-to-late ripening peach variety
In 1987, fruit-growing workers in Laizhou City discovered a superior strain among the "Huanglu" and "Fenghuang" peach seedlings introduced from Tai'an, Shandong (the two introduced varieties were yellow-fleshed peaches, while this strain is a white-fleshed peach and has no mutational relationship with the original varieties; it was discovered by chance). After several years of trial planting and observation, the mother plant and its propagated offspring were found to have stable economic traits and excellent quality. On August 18, 1997, it passed the formal appraisal of the Shandong Provincial Crop Variety Appraisal Committee and was named Laixuan No.1. Experts unanimously agreed that Laixuan No.1 is the most excellent variety among mid-to-late ripening peach varieties and can be promoted for large-scale planting. At present, the Laizhou area has expanded to more than 1.5 million sq m, and it is deeply welcomed by growers.
Laixuan No.1 has a vigorous tree vigour, a semi-spreading tree posture, strong budbreak rate and branching ability, and forms its canopy quickly. The main branches and perennial branches are greyish brown and smooth, while current-year branches are green. In normal years in Laizhou, flower buds begin to swell in late March, the flowering period is in mid-April, and the flowering period lasts 5-7d. It flowers easily, mainly with compound flower buds, bears fruit early, and middle and long fruiting branches bear fruit well. Growth and fruiting are stable; the rate of grafted seedlings flowering and fruiting in the second year after planting reaches 100%. In a 4-year-old orchard with a spacing of 4m x 3m, the yield per 666.7 sq m is 2528kg. It has good productivity, and is drought-resistant and tolerant of poor soil.
Laixuan No.1 is a large-fruited type, round, with an average single fruit weight of 332g and a maximum fruit weight of 782g. The fruit ground colour is milky white and it is coloured bright red, with the coloured surface reaching 80%. The flesh is milky white, firm, sweet, fragrant and juicy, slightly red near the stone, and freestone. It is extremely tolerant of storage and transport. It ripens in mid-August in Laizhou and sells at a high price.
Planting density (2-3)m x (4-5)m; pollinator trees need to be planted; natural open-centre or goblet-shaped training is suitable; during the young tree stage, pay attention to bending branches to open the crotch angle.