Frost resistance of generative and vegetative buds in plum varieties and hybrids in the Republic of Tatarstan

The Republic of Tatarstan is located in the zone of risky gardening. In winter, severe frosts, sharp fluctuations in air temperature, thaws are not uncommon here, frosts in spring. All these factors negatively affect the condition of generative buds after overwintering, the strength of flowering, and the productivity of plum plants. The purpose of the research is to identify plum varieties with frost-resistant generative and vegetative buds in the Republic of Tatarstan. The conducted studies have shown that in the Republic of Tatarstan, frosts down to -38 °C in the middle of winter cause moderate freezing of most varieties and hybrids of domestic plum, and very severe freezing of generative buds in varieties of Russian plum. The average frost resistance of generative buds in the middle of winter was shown by varieties of plum Pribrejnaya, Sineokaya, Kazankaya, Rakitovaya, hybrids — 8-4-52 and 8-2-21. Vegetative buds showed higher resistance to frost — 38 °C compared to generative buds. According to the frost resistance of vegetative buds, all varieties, except for the Kuban Kometa and Nesmeyana varieties, were included in the II resistance group (frost-resistant). The share of the influence of the genotype of plum varieties and hybrids on the frost resistance of generative buds in 2023–2024 on fruit formations was 72.4%, the conditions of the year — 11.8%, the interaction of the genotype with the conditions of the year — 8.6%. The share of the influence of the genotype of plum varieties and hybrids on the frost resistance of generative buds in 2023–2024 on annual branches was 75.2%, the conditions of the year — 6.6%, the interaction of the genotype with the conditions of the year — 13.1%. In breeding for frost resistance of generative buds, it is recommended to use domestic Pribrejnaya, Kazankaya plums as the initial parent varieties.

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