New apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) hybrids tolerant to spring frost

Document Type : Full Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Field and Horticultural Crops Research, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and ‎Education Center of Semnan Province (Shahrood), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), ‎Shahrood, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering Research, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education ‎Center of Semnan Province (Shahrood), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shahrood, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resourses, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran

Abstract

Damages caused by spring frosts are the most critical factor in reducing apricot production. The selection of cultivars tolerant to spring frost has been regarded as the most straightforward strategy to reduce late spring frost damages. To select frost-tolerant genotypes with suitable fruit quality, 1000 hybrids resulting from hybridization between two genotypes, Noori_Dirras×Rajabali, were evaluated for two years, 2020 and 2021, in the Agricultural Research Station of Bastam Shahroud. Phenological and pomological traits as well as spring frost tolerance were recorded naturally. Frost tolerance was determined by counting the number of healthy and damaged flowers or fruits on three random branches in each tree after the onset of frost. The last critical damaging temperatures in the first and second years occurred at -5 and -4 °C, respectively. Hybrids No. 7-74 with 60% and No. 12-64 with 41% tolerance of spring frost were identified as the most tolerant hybrids in the first and second years, respectively. Evaluation of the fruit of 51 tolerant genotypes in the second year showed that there was a great variety in the most traits among the offsprings. Ranges of 45 days to ripening, 37 g fruit weight, 13 Brix total soluble solids, and 1.933 kg/cm2 fruit firmness were observed among the hybrids. A comparison of the two-year frost tolerance mean of hybrids showed that 10 hybrids, 7-74, 10-65, 11-43, 12-11, 12-31, 12-47, 12-64, 13-29 and 14-16 were superior compared to the commercial tolerant genotype (Jahangiri) and could be candidates for propagation and adaptation experiments to achieve frost-tolerant cultivar with good fruit quality.

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. Akin, E.B., Karabulut, I., & Topcu, A. (2008). Some compositional properties of main Malatya apricot (Prunus armeniaca) varieties. Food Chemistry, 107, 939-948.
  2. Anonymous, (2021) Monthly Bulletin of the General Meteorological Department of Semnan Province. From: http://www.semnanweather.ir
  3. Asma, B.M., & Ozturk, K. (2005). Analysis of morphological, pomological and yield characteristics of some apricot germplasm in Turkey. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 52, 305-313.
  4. Balan, V., Tudor, V., Topor, E., Chireceanu, C., Dobrin, I., & Iacomi, B. (2009). Apricot adaptability under the Romanian climatic conditions. Scientific Papers, USAMV Bucharest, Series A 2, 445-450.
  5. Bartolini, S., Massai, R., Iacona, C., Guerriero, R., & Viti, R. (2019). Forty-year investigations on apricot blooming: Evidences of climate change effects. Scientia Horticulturae,244, 399-405.
  6. Bartolini, S., Massai, R., & Viti, R. (2020). The influence of autumn-winter temperatures on endodormancy release and blooming performance of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) in central Italy based on long-term observations. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 95(6), 794-803.
  7. Bassi, D., Andalo, G., & Bartolozzi, F. (1995). Tolerance of apricot to winter temperature fluctuation and spring frost in northern Italy. Acta Horticulturae, 384, 315-322.
  8. Corrado, G., Forlani, M., Rao, R., & Basile, B. (2021). Diversity and relationships among neglected Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) landraces using morphological traits and SSR markers: Implications for agro-biodiversity conservation. Plants,10(7), 1341.
  9. Dejampour, J. (2001). Determination of temperature requirement in some commercial apricot cultivars in Tabriz. Seed and Plant Improvement Journal, 17(1), 12-20. (In Farsi).
  10. Dejampour, J. (2013). Evaluation of early spring frost damage in different types of almond and apricot cultivars. Journal of Horticulture Science, 27(3), 301-309. (In Farsi).
  11. Dumanoglu, H., Erdogan, V., Kesik, A., Dost, S. E., Delialioglu, R. A., Kocabas, Z., & Bakir, M. (2019). Spring late frost resistance of selected wild apricot genotypes (Prunus armeniaca) from Cappadocia region, Turkey. Scientia Horticulturae,246, 347-353.
  12. Fallah-Barzoki, S., Arzani, K., & Bouzari, N. (2021). Preliminary assessment in genetic diversity of mature apricot (Prunus armeniaca) genotypes grown under Kashan environment conditions. Acta Horticulture. 1315, 307-312.
  13. Ganji Moghadam, E., & Rahnemoun, H. (2020). Comparison of phenological, morphological and pomological characteristics of six apricot promising genotypes in Khorasan Razavi province. Journal of Horticultural Science, 34(3), 505-520. (In Farsi).
  14. Ganji Moghadam, E., Dejampour, J., & Zamanipour, M. (2021). Comparison of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of 35 promising hybrids and genotypes of apricot under Khorasan Razavi province conditions. Journal of Plant Production Research, 28(3), 61-88. (In Farsi).
  15. Hegedús, A., Engel, R., Abrankó, L., Balogh, E. K., Blázovics, A., Hermán, R., & Stefanovits-Bányai, É. (2010). Antioxidant and antiradical capacities in apricot (Prunus armeniaca) fruits: variations from genotypes, years, and analytical methods. Journal of Food Science, 75(9), 722-730.
  16. Janatizadeh, A., Fattahi Moghaddam, M. R.., Zamani, Z. A., & Zeraatgar, H. (2011). Investigation of the genetic diversity of apricot varieties and cultivars using RAPD markers and morphological traits. Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science.42(3), 255-265. (In Farsi).
  17. Jannatizadeh, A. (2013). Evaluation of genetic diversity in response to cold stress and changes in the expression of some related genes in apricots. Ph. D. Thesis. Faculty of Agricultural Science & Engineering Tehran University. Iran. (In Farsi).
  18. Jannatizadeh, A., Moghadam, M. F., Zamani, Z., Babalar, M., Abbasi, A., & Abedini, M. (2014). Evaluation of supercooling temperatures in apricot flowers. Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science,45(1), 35-43. (In Farsi).
  19. Javaherdeh, M. (2009). Spring frost of apricot and its damages in a 20-year study to select spring frost-resistant germplasms. In: 6th Iranian Horticultural Sciences Congress, 13 Jul., Gilan University, Rasht , Iran.196. (In Farsi).
  20. Karami, F., & Rezaei Nejad, A. H. (2013). Effects of late spring frost on fruit yield and some physiological traits of apricot in Kurdistan province in Iran. Seed and Plant Production Journal, 29(1), 1-15. (In Farsi).
  21. Kaya, O., & Kose, C. (2019). Cell death point in flower organs of some apricot (Prunus armeniaca) cultivars at subzero temperatures. Scientia Horticulturae,249, 299-305.
  22. Kaya, O., Kose, C., Esitken, A., Gecim, T., Donderalp, V., Taskin, S., & Turan, M. (2021). Frost tolerance in apricot (Prunus armeniaca) receptacle and pistil organs: how is the relationship among amino acids, minerals, and cell death points?. International Journal of Biometeorology, 65(12), 2157-2170.
  23. Milosevic, T., Milosevic N., Glisic I., & Krska B. (2009). Characteristics of promising apricot (Prunus armeniaca) genetic resources in Central Serbia based on blossoming period and fruit quality. Horticultural Science, 2, 46- 55
  24. Mohammadzadeh, S., Bouzari, N., &Abdossi, V. (2013). An evaluation of pomological morphological and genetic characteristics of some cultivars and genotypes of Iranian Apricots. Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science44(2), 179-191, (In Farsi).
  25. Molaie, S., Soleimani, A., & Zeinolabedini, M. (2016). Evaluation of quantitative and qualitative traits of some apricot cultivars grown in Zanjan region. Journal of Horticultural Science,30(1), 35-48, (In Farsi).
  26. Monstra, F., Fideghelli, C., Grassi, G., Della Strada, G., Pennone, F., Proto, D., & Magliano, V. (1986). Horticultural and technological of canning apricot in south Italy. Acta Horticulture, 192, 469-474.
  27. Nazemi, Z., Zeinolabedini, M., Hallajian, M. T., Bouzari, N., Majidian, P., & Ebrahimi, M. A. (2016). Assessment of Iranian apricot cultivars resistant, susceptible and mutant to late spring frost. Journal of Plant Molecular Breeding, 4(2), 9-16.
  28. Nekounam, F., Fattahi Moghaddam, M., & Zamani, Z. (2018). Evaluation of chilling and heat requirements of flower buds in three commercial apricot cultivars by using different models. Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science49(1), 25-36, (In Farsi).
  29. Nesheva, M., & Bozhkova, V. (2021). Spring frost damages of plum and apricot cultivars grown in the region of Plovdiv Bulgaria. Horticulture, 65(1), 194-197.
  30. Piri, S., Gholami, R., piri, S., Mehri, S., & Einizadeh, S. (2017). Analysis of pomological and chemical attributes of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) genotypes selected from Khalkhal region.  Journal of Crop Production and Processing, 7(2), 117-131, (In Farsi).
  31. Rahnemoun, H., Dejampour, J., & Hajilou, J. (2015). Yielding characteristics of six promising apricot genotypes. Seed and Plant Production Journal, 31(2), 145-159, (In Farsi).
  32. Ruiz, D., & Egea, J. (2007). Phenotypic diversity and relationships of fruit quality traits in apricot (Prunus armeniaca) germplasm. Euphytica, 163, 143-158.
  33. Szalay, L., Bakos, J., Tósaki, Á., Keleta, B. T., Froemel-Hajnal, V., & Karsai, I. (2021). A 15-year long assessment of cold hardiness of apricot flower buds and flowers during the blooming period. Scientia Horticulturae, 290, 110520.
  34. Zohner, C. M., Mo, L., Renner, S. S., Svenning, J. C., Vitasse, Y., Benito, B. M., & Crowther, T. W. (2020). Late-spring frost risk between 1959 and 2017 decreased in North America but increased in Europe and Asia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(22), 12192-12200.