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.[6][7]
In 2018, China produced 62% of the world total of peaches and nectarines.[8]
The variety P. persica var. nucipersica (or var. nectarina), commonly called nectarine, has a smooth skin. It is on occasion referred to as a “shaved peach” or “fuzzless peach”, due to its lack of fuzz or short hairs. Though fuzzy peaches and nectarines are regarded commercially as different fruits, with nectarines often erroneously believed to be a crossbreed between peaches and plums, or a “peach with a plum skin”, nectarines belong to the same species as peaches. Several genetic studies have concluded nectarines are produced due to a recessive allele, whereas a fuzzy peach skin is dominant.[6] Nectarines have arisen many times from peach trees, often as bud sports.
As with peaches, nectarines can be white or yellow, and clingstone or freestone. On average, nectarines are slightly smaller and sweeter than peaches, but with much overlap.[6]Â The lack of skin fuzz can make nectarine skins appear more reddish than those of peaches, contributing to the fruit’s plum-like appearance. The lack of down on nectarines’ skin also means their skin is more easily bruised than peaches.
,%20commonly%20called%20nectarine,%20has%20a%20smooth%20skin.%20It%20is%20on%20occasion%20referred%20to%20as%20a%20shaved%20peach%20or%20fuzzless%20peach,%20due%20to%20its%20lack%20of%20fuzz%20or%20short%20hairs.%20Though%20fuzzy%20peaches%20and%20nectarines%20are%20regarded%20commercially%20as%20different%20fruits,%20with%20nectarines%20often%20erroneously%20believed%20to%20be%20a%20crossbreed%20between%20peaches%20and a%20title=Plum%20href=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumplums/a,%20or%20a%20peach%20with%20a%20plum%20skin,%20nectarines%20belong%20to%20the%20same%20species%20as%20peaches.%20Several%20genetic%20studies%20have%20concluded%20nectarines%20are%20produced%20due%20to%20a a%20class=mw-redirect%20title=Recessive%20allele%20href=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recessive_allelerecessive%20allele/a,%20whereas%20a%20fuzzy%20peach%20skin%20is a%20class=mw-redirect%20title=Dominant%20gene%20href=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominant_genedominant/a.sup%20id=cite_ref-osu_6-1%20class=referencea%20href=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach#cite_note-osu-6%5B6%5D/a/sup Nectarines%20have%20arisen%20many%20times%20from%20peach%20trees,%20often%20as a%20class=mw-redirect%20title=Bud%20sport%20href=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud_sportbud%20sports/a.As%20with%20peaches,%20nectarines%20can%20be%20white%20or%20yellow,%20and%20clingstone%20or%20freestone.%20On%20average,%20nectarines%20are%20slightly%20smaller%20and%20sweeter%20than%20peaches,%20but%20with%20much%20overlap.sup%20id=cite_ref-osu_6-2%20class=referencea%20href=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach#cite_note-osu-6%5B6%5D/a/sup The%20lack%20of%20skin%20fuzz%20can%20make%20nectarine%20skins%20appear%20more%20reddish%20than%20those%20of%20peaches,%20contributing%20to%20the%20fruit's%20plum-like%20appearance.%20The%20lack%20of%20down%20on%20nectarines'%20skin%20also%20means%20their%20skin%20is%20more%20easily%20bruised%20than%20peaches.&media=https://www.foodfinderz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/nectarine-large.jpg){kind=link}