Fruit of the week: Nectarines

          The fruit we call nectarines is virtually identical to the fruit we call peaches, except for one noticeable feature:  the skin.  Most peaches are fuzzy, while the skin of nectarines is smooth. The same mutation responsible for the fruit's smooth skin is also responsible for the spicier taste and slightly smaller size. Both grow from the same parent peach trees, which have been known to produce examples of both fruits at the same time. Essentially, there are no nectarine trees, only peach trees with a genetic mutation.

          Because nectarines are the result of genetic mutation, growers must rely on transplanted strains of peach trees known to produce them. Certain peach trees are identified as having at least one recessive nectarine gene, so they are often mated with other strains likely to contain recessive genes. Only a successful pairing of two recessive genes will guarantee a yield of the fruit.

          Nectarines can be traced back to ancient China, where they and peaches were very symbolic and revered fruits. This fruit required even more diligence to grow, since they were more vulnerable to mold and peach rot. As trade expanded between China and the West, nectarines became even more popular. European manuscripts dating to 1616 offer the first references to them in the Western world. One setback to successful European cultivation of nectarines and peaches was the extremes of hot and cold weather necessary for fruit pollination.

Sources:  Wikipedia; www.uri.edu; www.wikegeek.com