A New Peach Blossom Variety 'Ziqi'

'Ziqi'(see Feng Sancai photo) is a new ornamental peach blossom variety selected by the author after 1-ray radiation treatment on the open pollinated seeds of purple leaf peach in 2000. After 6 years of regional test, the comprehensive ornamental character of this variety is excellent and stable. compared with its female parent 'Purple Leaf Peach', the flowering period of this variety is 8-12 days earlier, and it belongs to early flowering variety; the flower color is bright and bright, the flower diameter is larger, the flower diameter is more dense, and the leaf color is purple and red. In 2006, it passed the on-site acceptance organized by the State Forestry Administration and obtained the right of new plant varieties. Variety characteristics

The tree is strong, the tree posture is half-open, and the sprouting ability and branching ability are strong. Dry skin grayish brown, with a large number of lenticels. The height of 6-year-old tree is 4.5m, dry week 44.6cm. 1-year-old branches glabrous, glossy, sunny purplish red. The leaf was elliptic-lanceolate, 9.1 ±0.59 cm long and 3.2 ±0.45 cm wide, which was smaller than that of the female parent. The leaf surface is spreading, the leaf tip is acuminate, the leaf base is wedge-shaped, the leaf margin is serrated, the leaf color is deep purplish red in spring and decreases slightly in summer. Petiole stout, about 1cm long, often with 2 or 4 reniform glands. Flowers are plum blossom-shaped bright pink, stalk long 0.3~0.5cm, flower diameter 3.9~4.4cm, double, sepals purple-brown, 1 whorl, 5, outer white hairs, long ovate. Petals 12-18, spoon-shaped. There are 29-36 stamens, the filament anthers are all red, and the basal stamens petal slightly. Ovary 1, can develop into fruit. The fruit is round, the apex is round, the vertical diameter is 3.09 ±0.55) cm, the transverse diameter is 3.06 ±0.43 cm, the fruit is densely fluffy, the suture is shallow, symmetrical on both sides, the pericarp is green, and the sunny side is red. The flesh is white, crisp, less juicy, with a small amount of fiber, enucleated, fragrant, sour and sweet. Early flowering, long florescence, early flowering in late March in Tai'an, Shandong Province, earlier than the female parent, florescence 18~2ld. The flower density was high, and the flower density on the growing branch in one year was (6.38 ±1.58) flowers / din, which was more than that of the female parent. The flower color is lighter than that of the female parent (Royal Horticultural Society color card 62B, its female parent is 59D). It has strong contrast with leaves and good ornamental effect. Key points of cultivation techniques

According to the distribution of its female parents, combined with the ecological division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ziqi can be cultivated in 5-9 districts of China. As the tree is strong and upright, we should pay attention to summer pruning, moderate angle control, ease the tree potential and promote flower buds. This variety has no special sensitivity to stress injury, diseases and insect pests.