History of cultivation and trends in China.

This chapter discusses peach cultivation in China during the Pre-Qin Dynasty (1100-221 BC), Eastern and Western Han Dynasty (222 BC-220 AD), from Wei-Jin Dynasty to Sui-Tang Dynasty and Five Dynasties period (221-960 AD), and Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing Dynasties and Republican period (961-1948 AD). Current status and trends in peach production in China (peach germplasm collection, repositories, evaluation and utilization in China; main peach cultivars, peach production and growing regions in China; rapid development of greenhouse production; peach postharvest management, processing and marketing in China; and problems faced by the Chinese peach industry) are described.