А comprehensive assessment of the most promising varieties and forms of plum breeding in I. V. Michurin federal scientific center

Abstract

The purpose of the research was a comprehensive assessment of plum varieties and forms and revealing the most promising for commercial use. Plantations laid in the city of Michurinsk, Tambov region. The assessment of plum plants for frost resistance was carried out in the middle of winter (II component). The artificial freezing of l year old shoots was made in January during 12 hours at -38 °C. The least subfreezing of the wood (2.8 and 2.9) was observed in elite form 22-29 and control variety “Etyud”, respectively. The moderate resistance of tissues (the degree of injury not over 3) was observed in “Vengerka Kursakova” variety and elite form 29- 136. The subfreezing level of vegetative buds in all studied varieties and elite forms did not exceed 2.5. The freezing at -38°C causes complete death of generative organs in all accessions. On the background of mass development of fungal diseases during the growing season 2016 because of high humidity and a deficit of positive temperatures and on the base of visual registration in field – the high resistant forms to Clasterosporium (“Vengerka Kursakova”) and to Monilia (22-29) were singled out. The intensity of fungal diseases in given accessions did not exceed 2 points. The highest productivity (7.43 t/ha) averagely during the years of investigations was found in “Vengerka Kursakova” variety and the data exceeded substantially the control one. The highest fruit weight occurred to be in “Radost” and “Artistichnaya” varieties with 40.3 and 40.8 g respectively and maximum values 51.7-52.3 g. The large-fruited group included the varieties “Etyud”, “Vengerka Kursakova” and elite form 29-136 where the maximum weight varied from 38.1 to 41.6 g. The varieties “Vengerka Kursakova”, “Dubravnaya”, “Artistichnaya” distinguished by sweet and sour fruit taste (tasting, assessment 4.4) and high commodity-consumer qualities of fruits. A promising plum variety “Vengerka Kursakova”, for use in industrial plantations of the Central Black Earth Region, was identified.