Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Ien-Chie Wen*, Ching-Yi Chang, and Yu-Hua Liu

Abstract:

    Due to low winter chill units in low elevation areas of Taiwan, only single petal, white flower varieties of Mei (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.) were grown as a fruit crop and there was no ornamental Mei varieties grown in these regions.  The objective of this study was to develop an ornamental Mei with low chilling requirement for the low elevation areas of Taiwan.  A Taiwan local Mei variety was crossed with pollen of a double petal, pink flower ornamental Mei which is a genotype with higher chilling requirement.  Among the F₁ progenies, a fragrant, multiple petal, white flower Mei genotype was selected and named as ‘Tainung No.1’.  This variety has low chilling requirement and outstanding tree characteristics such as early bloom, vigorous yree shape and nice flower shape etc.  The bloom period of Mei ‘Tainung No.1’ is from mid-January to early February in low elevation areas of Taiwan.  The requirement for winter chill of this variety is about 75 chilling units.  The flower of Mei ‘Tainung No.1’ is 20–23 mm in diameter and it has 15 petals, one pistil and 51–69 stamens without pollen grans.

Key words:Flowering Mei, Breeding, Ornamental Tree

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