REPLENISHMENT OF AN APPLE TREE ASSORTMENT WITH DEEP WINTER VARIETIES

Abstract

Large-scale and purposeful work on the development of new apple cultivars has been carried out at Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding since 1956. Over a long period of time, 55 apple cultivars of different fruit maturation periods were created and included in the state register of breeding achievements approved for use (zoned). Apple cultivars with fruits capable of long-term storage in refrigerator are of particular interest. Cultivars fruits of which can store until mid-March or longer include zoned cultivars: Aleksandr Boiko, Den Pobedy, Kulikovskoe, Ministr Kisilev, Sinap Orlovsky, as well as Zhdanovskoe, which is passing state testing. The article provides a brief description of six cultivars and a more complete characteristic of new cultivar Zhdanovskoe. Triploid cultivar Sinap Orlovsky is included in the state register in four regions of Russia, Kulikovskoe – in three regions, Svezhest - in two regions while Aleksandr Boiko, Den Pobedy, Kulikovskoe and Ministr Kisilev are included in the state register only in the Central Chernozem region. Zhdanovskoe, which is passing state testing, is also of interest for industry. Its fruit are stored in the refrigerator till mid-March. Among the listed cultivars there are 5 triploid cultivars, including 2 triploid cultivars that are immune to scab. It is known that triploid cultivars are prone to more regular fruiting over the years and have larger and more marketable fruits, and the introduction of scab-immune cultivars into widespread production improves the environmental situation in the orchard and provides cleaner products. The primary task of breeding institutions and production is to give these cultivars a comprehensive assessment.