Abstract
This book summarizes current state of knowledge in peach botany, production and postharvest management. Specific topics covered consisted of: botany and taxonomy (chapter 1); history of cultivation and trends in China (chapter 2); classical genetics and breeding (chapter 3); genetic engineering and genomics (chapter 4); low-chill cultivar development (chapter 5); fresh market cultivar development (chapter 6); processing peach cultivar development (chapter 7); rootstock development (chapter 8); propagation techniques (chapter 9); carbon assimilation, partitioning and budget modelling (chapter 10); orchard planting systems (chapter 11); crop load management (chapter 12); nutrient and water requirements of peach trees (chapter 13); orchard floor management systems (chapter 14); biology, epidemiology and management of diseases caused by fungi and fungal-like organisms (chapter 15); diseases caused by bacteria and phytoplasmas ['Candidatus Phytoplasma'] (chapter 16); viruses and viroids (chapter 17); insects and mites (chapter 18); nematodes (chapter 19); preharvest factors affecting peach quality (chapter 20); ripening, nutrition and postharvest physiology (chapter 21); and harvesting and postharvest handling of peaches for the fresh market (chapter 22). This book aims to provide research scientists, extension personnel, students, professional fruit growers and others with a vital resource on peach and its culture.