Twenty peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) and nectarine (P. persica L. Batsch var. nucipersica) cultivars were evaluated for ripening season over seven years at Jundiaí (23°08'S), State of São Paulo, Brazil. A new classification table was elaborated for the Institute Agronômico cultiva rs. It contains, respectively, maturation period, days between full bloom and fruit maturity and cultivars: ultra-early, < 74 days (Fla. 7-3); very-early, 75-90 days (Flordaprince, Tropical and Maravilha); early, 91-120 days (Regis, Jóia-1, Jóia-4, Delicioso Precoce, Centenária, Dourado-1, Aurora-1, Aurora-2, Ouromel-3 . and Josefina); mid, 121-150 days (Canário, Cristal and Talismã); late, ,' 151-180 days (Biuti and Rei da Conserva), and very-late, > 181 days (Bolão).
peach; nectarine; fruit maturation period; breeding