Floral biology of some European and Japanese plum cultivars for phenological properties grown under temperate conditions of Kashmir

Abstract

The studies on the floral biology of some European and Japanese plum cultivars for phenological characteristics were conducted in Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar, Kashmir during the year 2016–17. The present study consisted of six plum cultivars viz. Burbank, Stanley, Friar, Wickson, Santa Rosa and Satsuma of uniform age replicated thrice in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). In the experimental year, swollen bud, bud burst, green cluster, white bud, initial bloom, full bloom, blooming period and petal fall were determined in terms of days after reference date (DARD). The data recorded revealed that the swollen bud and bud burst stage was recorded first in cultivar Satsuma (22.66 DARD and 28.33 DARD) which was statistically at par with Friar (22.67 DARD and 28.57 DARD) and late in cultivar Stanley (33.00 DARD and 51.67 DARD) respectively. The green cluster stage was observed earliest in cultivar Friar (40.33 DARD), while the earliest white bud stage was recorded in cultivar Satsuma (51.67 DARD). The initial bloom (54.23 DARD) and full bloom (59.53 DARD) was recorded earliest in cultivar Friar which was statistically at par with Satsuma, while as late green cluster (57.20 DARD), white bud (68.33 DARD), initial bloom (72.43 DARD) and full bloom (75.43 DARD) stage was recorded in cultivar Stanley. The petal fall was found earliest in cultivar Satsuma (67.23 DARD) and late in cultivar Stanley (80.23 DARD) respectively. The study concluded on the note that cultivars Satsuma and Friar were earliest to bloom and Stanley was late to bloom.