PLUM CULTIVAR TESTING IN THE WESTERN PART OF SLOVENIA

Abstract

Ten European plum cultivars (Prunus domestica L.), which according to literature should be tolerant to or resistant against PPV, were planted in spring 2003 at the Bilje Fruit Growing Centre (Slovenia). Phenological data (flowering and ripening time), flower and fruit set, yield and pomological data (fruit dimensions and bloom, fruit color, soluble solids content, titratable acids, ...) were collected from 2005 to 2007 for cultivars 'Pitestean', 'Cacanska rana', 'Cacanska lepotica', 'Cacanska rodna', 'Cacanska najbolja', 'Jojo', 'Herman', 'Valjevka', 'Ruth Gerstetter' and 'Stanley' (standards). Fruits have been tested by panelists for sensory characteristics (taste, aroma, sweetness/sourness, etc.). First results show that 'Jojo' is the most precocious amongst these cultivars; besides this cultivar also 'Cacanska lepotica' and 'Stanley'. The highest yield in 2006 was picked from 'Jojo', and 'Pitestean', 'Cacanska rodna' and 'Cacanska najbolja' showed precocity. The results show that 'Jojo' was characterized by the best taste and the highest fruit quality among tested cultivars and 'Pitestean' with the lowest taste and bitterness. Fruits of all cultivars, except 'Pitestean', were ascertained as moderately aromatic. 'Stanley', 'Jojo', 'Cacanska najbolja', 'Caclanska lepotica', 'Pitestean' and 'Valjevka' were cultivars with deep blue skin, 'Cacanska rana', 'Cacanska rodna' and 'Herman' with blue violet skin.