Promising forms of apricot for the conditions of the Orenburg Urals
The article describes new forms of apricot revealed in the sharply continental climate of the steppe zone of the southern Urals. The research was carried out in the period 2014-2020 on the basis of the Orenburg experimental station of horticulture and viticulture of the All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery. The experiment was conducted on annual seedlings in rain-fed conditions on a collection site in 2013, the layout of trees is 6×4 m. The soil of the experimental site and the adjacent massif is southern carbonate Chernozem, low-power, medium-loamy. According to productivity, fruit taste and winter hardiness (damage of 2 points), three forms of apricot SIZV-6-1, NO. 40, and D-36 were identified with the following characteristics: average fl owering period (from April 27 to May 1), the height is from 2 (D-36) to 3.5 (SI-ZV-6-1) meters, the yield is from 9.8 kg (form 40) to 15.7 kg per tree (form D-36). The revealed forms SI-ZV-6-1, No. 40 have a good, harmonious, sweet taste of fruits. The exception is the D-36 form, which has a sourness in the pulp. For all the time of research, the forms SI-SV-6-1, D-36, No. 40 were not aff ected by clasterosporium and moniliosis. The climatic conditions of the Orenburg region during the period of observation of phenological parameters were very diverse, which allowed us to give a comprehensive assessment of new forms of apricot. The information obtained during monitoring is new and can be used in breeding work.