Potential productivity evolution of flat peach cultivars (Prunus persica var. platycarpa) grown in different climatic conditions of southeast of Spain

The Region of Murcia is the main area of flat peach production in Spain. The main cultivars are 'UFO 3' and 'Sweet Cap'. Both are highly productive, but factors such as the genetic characteristics of the cultivars or environmental conditions may affect their final productivity and yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of the potential productivity of these cultivars in different climatic areas. For this, four types of potential productivity were defined and evaluated over three years, namely: latent productivity (LPB), measured as bud density, flower productivity (FlP), measured as flower density, fruit productivity (FrP), measured as fruit set density, and final productivity (FFrP), measured as final fruit density. Cultivar 'UFO 3' displayed a high cropping potential and good performance under the environmental conditions of south-eastern Spain, although its cultivation in areas with a high risk of freezing damage may produce loss of yield. The results show also that a lack of cold may be a limiting factor to the cultivation of 'Sweet Cap' in the warmer regions, and in moderately-cold areas during warm years, due to late and low levels of bud break and vegetative disarrangements.