Peach is a highly valuable temperate fruit crop with significant consumer demand and nutraceutical benefits. This book provides comprehensive and up-to-date coverage on sustainable production processes for peach and nectarine. The latter is a natural mutation of peach that lacks fuzzy skin. It includes fundamental information to help reduce production risks for growers, improve fruit quality, and increase potential market returns, whilst addressing current emerging issues such as climate change and shifting global and regional production practices. Written by an international team of expert authors and highly illustrated in full colour throughout, Peach presents information in an organized and easy-to-follow manner, with content including: Peach tree architecture. Rootstocks. Cultivars. In-field operations (irrigation, fertilization, thinning, harvest) Fruit quality, composition and nutritional benefits. Peach fruit growth, development and ripening physiology. Postharvest technology, including supply chain management protocols. Preharvest and postharvest diseases. Biology and management of insect pests. The peach canning industry. This is an essential resource for students and researchers in horticulture, as well as professionals in pomology including fruit growers, consultants and extension specialists, and cold storage and transportation managers.
