– Taxonomy and Origin:
– Binomial name: Prunus persica
– First domesticated in Zhejiang province, China
– Belongs to the genus Prunus in the rose family
– Originated in Persia (modern-day Iran)
– Transplanted to Europe in the 16th century
– Fruit Characteristics:
– Edible juicy fruits
– Known as peaches or nectarines
– Varied characteristics
– Some varieties are glossy-skinned and non-fuzzy
– Considered a drupe fruit
– Cultivation and Distribution:
– Cultivated in Zhejiang province, China
– Transplanted to Europe and later to the Americas
– Grows in temperate regions
– Requires well-drained soil and full sun
– Major commercial production in the United States
– Economic Importance:
– Valuable commercial crop
– High demand in the food industry
– Exported globally
– Supports livelihoods of farmers
– Diverse uses in culinary applications
– Health Benefits:
– Rich in vitamins A and C
– Good source of dietary fiber
– Contains antioxidants
– Supports heart health
– May have anti-inflammatory properties
The peach (Prunus persica) is a deciduous tree first domesticated and cultivated in Zhejiang province of Eastern China. It bears edible juicy fruits with various characteristics, most called peaches and others (the glossy-skinned, non-fuzzy varieties), nectarines.
| Peach | |
|---|---|
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| Peach flower, fruit, seed and leaves as illustrated by Otto Wilhelm Thomé (1885) | |
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| Autumn Red peaches, cross section showing freestone variety | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Prunus |
| Subgenus: | Prunus subg. Amygdalus |
| Species: | P. persica
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| Binomial name | |
| Prunus persica | |
| Synonyms | |
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Synonymy
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The specific name persica refers to its widespread cultivation in Persia (modern-day Iran), from where it was transplanted to Europe and in the 16th century to the Americas. It belongs to the genus Prunus, which includes the cherry, apricot, almond, and plum, in the rose family. The peach is classified with the almond in the subgenus Amygdalus, distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated seed shell (endocarp). Due to their close relatedness, the kernel of a peach stone tastes remarkably similar to almond, and peach stones are often used to make a cheap version of marzipan, known as persipan.
Peaches and nectarines are the same species, though they are regarded commercially as different fruits. The skin of nectarines lacks the fuzz (fruit-skin trichomes) that peach skin has; a mutation in a single gene (MYB25) is thought to be responsible for the difference between the two.
In 2018, China produced 62% of the world total of peaches and nectarines. Spain, Italy, Turkey and Greece, all situated in the Mediterranean region, are prominent producers of peaches.