2018 Volume 17 Issue 4 Pages 475-482
New ornamental peach cultivars with a pillar type tree shape and chrysanthemum-like flowers, ‘Hakurakuten’ and ‘Maihiten’, have been released from the collaborative investigation of ornamental peach breeding between Tokyo University of Agriculture and the Institute of Fruit Tree and Tea Science, NARO. Six hybrid trees were obtained from crosses between G-11-19, a seedling of ‘Houkimomo’ showing tree and flower traits very similar to those of the parent, and ‘Kikumomo’, showing a normal tree shape and flowers with double petals. F2 seedlings from self-pollinated F1 demonstrated segregation in tree shapes, flower types, and petal colors. The appearance rate of selections that have both traits was as low as 1.8%. In addition to the unique tree shape and flowers, ‘Hakurakuten’ has white petals, flowers 1 or 2 days earlier than ‘Kikumomo’, and has many flowers. ‘Maihiten’ has pink petals, flowers a few days earlier, and many flowers.
