Progress of collection,conservation and innovative utilization of peach re-sources in the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository(Beijing)

ZHANG Yu; JIANG Quan; GUO Jiying; LIU Xin; LI Dandan; LI Xinyue; SONG Yongge; SUN Wei; REN Fei; ZHAO Jianbo

doi:10.13925/j.cnki.gsxb.20250116

Abstract：The peach belongs to the genus Amygdalus persica L.within the Rosaceae Juss.family,origi-nated from the northwestern regions of China,specifically Shaanxi and Gansu provinces.It is one of the most ancient fruit crops in China.As the birthplace and a major producer of peaches,China has devel-oped an exceptionally rich resource base through long-term evolution and cultivation,providing signifi-cant material support for the development of the peach industry in the country.The abundant peach germplasm resources provide a crucial material foundation for peach breeding and industry develop-ment in the country.The National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository(Beijing)is one of the earliest units to collect,preserve and identify peach germplasm resources in China.The Institute of For-estry and Pomology,Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences(hereinafter referred to as the Beijing Institute of Forestry and Pomology)initiated the investigation and collection of peach vari-ety resources both domestically and internationally in 1974,establishing a primary peach germplasm re-pository.Subsequently,the institute participated in the survey of yellow-fleshed canning peach resourc-es in the northwest region organized by the Ministry of Light Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,uncovering the number of valuable germplasm resources for collection and preserva-tion.A batch of domestic variety resources was also collected from Hebei,Shandong,Liaoning,Shang-hai,Jiangsu,and Zhejiang provinces.Meanwhile,a series of foreign peach varieties were introduced through delegations from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,the Ministry of Light Industry,and Beijing Municipality.In 1981,the institute undertook the task assigned by the Ministry of Agricul-ture and Rural Affairs to establish the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository(Beijing).Since then,in accordance with the requirements for a germplasm repository,the scope of collected and preserved materials has expanded from cultivated varieties to wild species and related species with po-tential value that have not been utilized or improved,local varieties with specific traits,cultivated variet-ies,as well as bred superior lines and mutant types,thereby initiating research work on germplasm re-sources.By December 2024,the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository(Beijing)had collected and preserved above five hundred peach germplasm resources.The germplasm repository sys-tematically preserves a variety of peach germplasm resources of significant value,including traditional local varieties and wild peach resources from various regions.Additionally,the repository places a spe-cial emphasis on collecting rare germplasms such as endangered resources and the cold-resistant Hunc-hun peach.In terms of international germplasm resources,the repository has introduced low-chilling va-rieties from foreign countries such as Thailand,Brazil,and the United States,as well as the French root-stock GF677,which is resistant to replanting disease.Furthermore,the repository houses a rich collec-tion of ornamental peach varieties.Relying on the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Reposito-ry(Beijing),the Institute of Forestry and Pomology,Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sci-ences,initiated hybrid combinations in 1981,embarking on the hybrid breeding of peaches and nectar-ines.This effort led to the selection and breeding of a series of new peach and nectarine varieties charac-terized by superior quality,a range of maturity periods from early to late,and suitability for cultivation in China,which were subsequently demonstrated and promoted in production.Concurrently,with the di-versification of fruit consumption among the populace,the flat peach,a distinct type of peach known for its sweetness and flat shape,has gradually evolved into a significant type favored by consumers.Tra-ditional flat peach resources are relatively scarce compared to common peach types,numbering only a dozen or so.These variety resources are plagued by weaknesses such as poor fruit coloration,suscepti-bility to cracking at the apex,easy skin tearing at the stem,poor storage and transport tolerance,and un-stable yields.The production sector lacks flat peach varieties that simultaneously offer deliciousness,aesthetic appeal,storage and transport tolerance,and a range of maturity periods,thereby constraining the development of the flat peach industry.Building on the foundation of resource collection,China em-barked on exploratory flat peach breeding research in the 1970s.In 1985,the Beijing Academy of Agri-culture and Forestry Sciences and other research institutions initiated systematic flat peach breeding pro-grams.By 1996,the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences had further prioritized flat peach breeding as a key direction.The breeding team set objectives to overcome issues such as apex cracking and stem-end splitting,aiming for large,red,sweet,firm,clingstone fruits with a range of ma-turity periods,leading to the selection and breeding of a series of high-quality flat peach varieties.Meanwhile,the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository(Beijing)provides various germ-plasm resources to universities,research institutes,and other organizations across the country,promot-ing foundational research on peach origins,molecular markers,quality,disease resistance,and more,thereby offering theoretical support for the advancement of the peach industry.This paper provides an overview of the development of the National Peach and Strawberry Germplasm Repository(Beijing),reviews the collection and preservation status of peach germplasm resources over the past fifty years,and summarizes the progress made in the innovative utilization of peach germplasm resources.Addi-tionally,it outlines future research directions,aiming to offer valuable reference information for the effi-cient utilization of peach germplasm resources and the development of the peach industry in China.