ABSTRACT
The fruit of peach (Prunus persica [L.] Batsch) is a large drupe characterized by a skinlike exocarp, a fleshy mesocarp, and a thick endocarp. It develops from a superior ovary lying within a cup-like floral tube. Petals, floral tube, and style abscise at successive discrete intervals from bloom. The fruit itself experiences a number of abscission episodes before reaching maturity. The plant bears fruit mostly on the previous year wood, which is abundantly renovated from terminal and lateral bud growth. As a result, the plant crops heavily year after year and requires winter pruning to warrant a balanced growth and a prolonged orchard life. Practically all commercial varieties are self-fertile and do not present particular pollination requirements. Self-sterility (androsterility) is known limitedly to few varieties. Of them, Hale is the only one that has received some commercial diffusion.
