Prunus spp.

Abstract

The genus Prunus, belonging to the family Rosaceae, includes a large number of tree fruit species known as ‘stone fruits’ because the seed is encased within a hard, lignified stone-like endocarp. The edible portion of the fruit is the juicy mesocarp, although the genus also includes nut crop species such as almond (P. dulcis Miller). The major commercial stone fruit species are peach and nectarine (P. persica L.), European plum (P.domestica L.), Japanese plum (P. salicina Lindl.), sour cherry (P. cerasus L.), sweet cherry (P. avium L.), apricot (P. armeniaca L.) and the above mentioned almond. Most Prunus species used in commercial production represent only a small fraction of the genetic diversity available within the species. The western stone fruit cultivars, with a restricted germplasm base, but high fruit quality, productivity and superior handling characteristics, usually replace land race cultivars that are resistant to local biotic and abiotic stress factors (Scorza and Hammerschlag 1992).