Modeling the Budbreak in Peaches: A Basic Approach Using Chill and Heat Accumulation

• Published in: Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 9; p. 2422
• Main Authors: Cifuentes-Carvajal, Adriana, Chaves-Córdoba, Bernardo, Vinson, Edgar, Coneva, Elina D., Chavez, Dario, Salazar-Gutiérrez, Melba R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Accumulation; Analysis; chill requirement; chilling accumulation models; Climatic changes; Climatic conditions; Crop development; Crop management; Crops; Cultivars; Dormancy; dormancy release; Dynamic models; Food quality; Fruits; growing degree-days; Harvesters; Harvesting; Heat; heat requirement; Humidity; Peaches; Phenology; Physiology; Statistical methods; Temperature; Trees; Alabama; United States > US
• ISSN: 2073-4395; 2073-4395
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy13092422

Phenological shifts in peaches have been observed over the last few years due to the fluctuation of the seasonal climate conditions experienced during dormancy, affecting orchard management practices and influencing production and harvest dates. This study aimed to model the vegetative and floral budbreak of selected peach cultivars. Three peach cultivars, including “Rubyprince”, “Harvester”, and “Red Globe”, were considered in this study based on the representation of the early, early-mid, and mid-seasons. The prediction of the budbreak in peaches was assessed using different models that integrate the combination of chill and heat requirements. Models used include the Weinberger model, the modified Weinberger model, Utah, the dynamic model, and the growing degree model. The accumulation of chill varies according to the season evaluated. A model that considers both chill and heat accumulation is presented for each cultivar. Budbreak as an indicator of dormancy completion was established for each cultivar. The outcome of this study is to determine the amount of chilling accumulation and thermal time required to mark the beginning of the budbreak in selected cultivars with a model that predicts the duration of the dormancy. These results are valuable information that can be used for crop management practices and support the mitigation of cold damage during this critical period of crop development.