The study aimed to determine the length of the cycle and characterize phases of the growth curve and the breathing pattern of peach genotypes grown in subtropical climate region. The experiment was conducted at the experimental orchard at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) in Araponga-MG. It was selected ten genotypes from the breeding program at UFV where 50 fruits were collected biweekly from anthesis until full ripening. Samplings occurred from June to November 2011 and were evaluated diameters (polar, equatorial and sutural), fresh and dry weight (fruit, peel, pulp and seed) and CO2 production. The growth pattern was sigmoidal double the interval between anthesis and harvest of 135 days for genotypes 803-10, 803-33, 803-55, 1603-51 e 5503-25, allowing classify them as medium cycle and of 180 days for genotypes 2903-1, 5003-46, 8503-6, 9103-1 e 9903-2, which was characterized as the long cycle. The fruit growth assessed had three growth stages: stage I, with exponential growth, stage II, with little growth, and stage III, with exponential growth culminating in fruit ripening. The CO2 production decreased over time with the presence of peaks at certain times. At the end of the cycle climacteric peaks were observed. The final marked the beginning of climacteric fruit senescence, which coincided with its full ripening on the plant.
Prunus persica (L.) Batsch; stage of development; physical characteristics
