Evaluation of productivity and biochemical composition of fruits of promising apple varieties, grown in the arid zone

Abstract

Relevance. The list of imported varieties and rootstocks is often determined by the marketing policy of the producing countries ; they had not been tested for specific conditions. For the first time in the arid conditions of the Astrakhan region a comprehensive assessment of new introduced apple varieties of autumn and winter ripening period was carried out to select a modern adaptive assortment for arid conditions.
Methods. The experiment was laid in 2012 in the experimental orchard of the Caspian Agrarian Federal Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The purpose of the research is a comprehensive assessment of apple varieties by economic and biological indicators to optimize the regional assortment and selection of the best varieties for cultivation using intensive technologies in the Astrakhan region. The article presents the results of the study of 9 new apple varieties by productivity components in the semi-desert zone of the Northern Caspian Sea.
Results. It was found that in the conditions of the arid zone, the most rapid-fruiting varieties are Renet Simirenko, Prikubanskoe, Pamyati esaulu and Renet Kubansky, who fructified in the second year of vegetation (0.2–0.5 kg/tree). Prikubanskoye (31.0 t/ha), Galakub (31.1 t/ha) and Pinovo (28.7 t/ha) varieties have been characterized by high yields over the past five years. The harmonious taste of apple fruits distinguished varieties Prikubanskoe, Pamyati esaulu, Renet Kubansky (16.7–20.0). Varieties Zolotaya korona, Paskhalnoe, Galakub, Red Chief and Pinovo had sweeter fruits (21.0–35.8).