Peach breeding in France

Since the end of the 1980s, numerous peach varieties created in France have been proposed to fruit growers. The emergence of these obtentions results mainly from the work of private breeders. Several nurserymen, one peach grower and INRA have been implicated in the obtention of these new varieties. The importance and the particular characteristics of the creation of peach varieties in France are illustrated by the collaboration between a private breeder (R. Monteux-Caillet) and INRA (Mediterranean Fruit Research Station of Avignon). The background, aims and selection criteria, of this work are presented. The promising results obtained by the private sector lead INRA to develop breeding programs mainly for disease resistance (powdery mildew, peach leaf curl, green peach aphid, nematodes, plum pox virus) and varietal innovations (weeping-habit, flat fruit, blood flesh).