Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of 35 Promising Hybrids and Genotypes of Apricot under Khorasan Razavi province conditions

In Iran, One of the important goals of apricot breeding programs is to obtain new compatible cultivars with the suitable characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the compatibility of promising genotypes in different parts of the country before releasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptability and determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of 35 hybrid and genotypes obtained from the breeding programs in Khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center. Matherials and

In this project, 35 selected and promising apricot genotypes obtained at Sahand Horticultural Research Station during the past years through hybridization and selection from native genotypes were evaluated for experiment in 2017-2019. Genotypes were studied in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Measured factors included phenological, morphological and pomological traits. Also, correlations between traits and decomposition into main factors were performed.

The results showed that DM101 genotype was the earliest ripening and Jalil was the late ripening. Genotypes in terms of tree vegetative ability in three groups (strong, medium and weak), branching in three groups (high, medium and low), distribution of buds in trees in three groups (often on spur, often on annual branches, equally on spur and annual branches). Also, The studied genotypes were very different in terms of average fruit weight, so that, Shanli cultivar with 75.50 g and the AC311 with 14.90 g had the highest and lowest average weights, respectively. Genotypes also differed significantly in terms of yield, so that the highest yield (110 kg) was observed in genotype of AD735. The kernel bitterness of most varieties, except for the AD741 and AD546, were sweet. Fruit biochemical characteristics also showed significant changes among genotypes, so that the soluble solids variations ranged from 13.48% in AD650 to 21.95% in AC801 and HS515. Fruit weight had a positive correlation with stone weight (0.73) and kernel weight (0.26) and negative correlation with yield (-0.19) and the number of days from the full bloom to fruit ripening (-0.18). Soluble solids had a negative correlation at 5% level with total acid (-0.21) and a positive correlation with pH (0.40) at 1% level. The results of principal component analysis showed that PC1 factor with 29.44% of total changes expressing pomological characteristics, PC2 factor with 17.00% total changes indicating morphological characteristics, PC3 factor with 9.00% total changes indicating phenological traits and PC4 factor With 8.00% of the total changes, they indicated the chemical properties of the fruit. These four combinations accounted for about 64.94% of the total variation.

In general, Shanli cultivar was superior in fruit size, Jalil in late ripening, good fruit quality and drying ability and Parsi in terms of fruit quality, marketability and excellent colorabitliy are superior to other genotypes.