Phenological and pomological characteristics of some plum (Prunus spp.) cultivars grown in Mashhad, Iran

Iran, with a yearly production of 147,000 tons of plums, is one of the most important plum producers in the world. This study was conducted to compare the phenological and pomological characteristics of 18 plum cultivars. An experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resource and Agricultural Research Center during the 2003-2008 growing seasons. Phenological and pomological traits were scored and recorded following IPGRI and UPOV instructions and methods. Flowering extended from 21 March (Ghermez Damavand and Queen Rosa) to 6 April (Regina d' Italia) and fruit ripening from 10 August (Black Amber) to 20 September (Angelono). Fruit weight ranged from 16.9 g (Tee Blue) to 105.8 g (Queen Rosa). Results revealed that harvest date differed among plum cultivars. Plum cultivars were divided into three groups based on days after full bloom: early (<110 days), medium (110 to 150 days), and late (> 150 days) ripening. President, Simka, Zuccella, No.17, No.16, Angelono, Stanley and Queen Rosa were better adapted to Mashhad conditions and are thus recommended for plum growing areas in northeastern Iran.