Evaluation of some Canadian apricot cultivars in the region of Belgrade

Abstract

Evaluation of 11 introduced Canadian apricot cultivars was conducted in the region of Belgrade during a six-year period (2009‡2014). Control cultivar for comparison was ‘Hungarian Best’. Studies have included time of flowering and ripening, yield, and fruit quality. In addition, self-(in)compatibility trait was studied by means of fluorescence microscopy. Canadian cultivars began to flower one to five days before ‘Hungarian Best’, while average harvest date was earlier in four cultivars, and later in seven cultivars. Compared with the control cultivar, significantly higher yield was achieved in cultivars ‘Harcot’, Harojoy’, ‘Sundrop’, ‘Harogem’, and ‘Harostar’. Significantly larger fruit size was achieved in ‘Laycot’, while smaller size was found in cultivars ‘Harlayne’, ‘Harglow’, ‘Harostar’ and ‘Sundrop’. Most of the introduced cultivars had better scores for fruit appearance, while scores for fruit quality were lower or at the same level as in control cultivar. Nine of studied cultivars were self-incompatible, while only two were self-compatible (‘Harlayne’ and ‘Harogem’).