Figure Ripening time of apricot cultivars recommended for trying in new plantations in Hungary, or other temperate zone areas

„Aurora‟ has come to Hungary from Italy, where its origin is not exactly known. Probably it is the same, as that of cultivar ‗Early Blush‘ (‗Rutbhart‘), bred in New Jersey. Very early ripening, starts to mature around 10th June near Budapest. Its fruits are small, slightly ovate, covered by a nice red colour (Figure 5.3.). The fruit flesh is light orange, juicy, has a high sugar content and a pleasant taste. The fruits soften quickly during maturation, so they are suitable only for nearby markets, cannot tolerate

longer transport. They tend to crack during ripening. Its tree is moderately vigorous, the growth habit is open. Self sterile cultivar, its recommended pollinators according to literature are ‗Goldrich‘ and ‗Harcot‘.

It flowers early, has poor frost and winter tolerance, and can be recommended only for hilly areas with balanced climate.

Figure 5.3.

Fruit of „Aurora‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Samarkandskij rannij‟ was bred in Uzbekistan, at the Research Station of Samarkand, by crossing varieties ‗Krasnoschokij‘ and ‗Majskaja skorospelka‘. In Hungary it was certified by the state in 2005. A very early cultivar, can be harvested in the second part of June. The fruit is small but showy. Its shape is round, slightly flat at sides. The ground colour of the skin and the flesh is orange, slightly whitish at the stone. The sunny side surface is covered by a red colour (Figure 5.4.). It has a pleasant apricot taste, sweet, moderately juicy, finely fibrous, slightly clingstone. Its tree is moderately vigorous, the growth habit is open, moderately branching, with thin sprays. According to some observations, it flowers early, while others say it is mid-flowering. Fertility affairs are not yet clear, probably it is self-sterile. It has to be planted with early and mid-flowering varieties. The frost and winter tolerance is moderate. Not very susceptible to diseases.

Figure 5.4.

Fruit of „Samarkandskij rannij‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Sylred‟ starts ripening at around 20th July, while ‟Sylvercot‟ and ‟Pinkcot‟ a few days later near Budapest. All three cultivars have been bred in the USA and are widely produced in Europe as well with good results. Their fruits are very similar (Figures 5.5., 5.6., 5.7.). As these varieties have been bred especially for the fresh market, the colour of their fruits differs from what we are accustomed to. Their dark orange ground colour is very pleasing alone, but there is a nice red cover colour, which makes the fruits even more attractive. As a main advantage, the fruits have a quite firm flesh, they are easy to transport and do not soften to the extent that traditional cultivars do. The fruits get coloured early, but shouldn‘t be harvested too early, otherwise the taste will not be good. The flowers bloom in an early period, self-sterile, pollinate each other well. As a pollinator, cultivars ‗Carmen Top‘ and ‗Goldrich‘ can also be planted for them. Their frost tolerance and winter hardiness is bad, they are suitable only for hilly production areas not affected by frost.

Figure 5.5.

Fruit of „Sylred‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

Figure 5.6.

Fruit of „Sylvercot‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

Figure 5.7.

Fruit of „Pinkcot‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Harmat‟ was bred by Andrzej Pedryc and István Tamássy (Corvinus University Budapest). It was certified by the state in 2002. It ripens very early, can be harvested at the end of June. The shape of fruit is typical, elongated ovate, narrowing towards the pedicel, slightly flattened at the sides, the size is middle. The skin is light orange, washed by a 10-20 % light red cover colour, potted by dark red, very pleasing (Figure 5.8). Its surface is slightly velvety. The flesh is yellow, whitish around the stone, moderately juicy, soft as ripe, slightly clingstone. The taste is pleasantly sweet-sour. Its tree is of upright habit. The big, white flowers start to bloom very early. Self-sterile, early blooming cultivars should be planted for it as pollinators (pl. ‗Ceglédi Piroska‘, ‗Ceglédi óriás‘, ‗Harcot‘). Susceptible to end-of-winter and early spring frosts. Moderately susceptible to viral and fungal diseases.

Figure 5.8.

Fruit of „Harmat‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Orange Red‟ was bred in New Jersey (USA) by L. F. Hough. Due to its excellent fruit quality it is widely spread throughout the temperate zone production areas. It starts ripening on the last days of June. Its middle size fruit is very pleasing, slightly falttened at the sides. It is covered by a bright red colour on a deep orange ground (Figure 5.9.). The flesh is dark orange, firm, tasty. The fruit is strongly attached to the tree, does not fall. The tree is vigorous, with open habit. Self-sterile, flowers bloom early.

Susceptible to Monilia. A very promising cultivar for our less frost affected production sites.

Figure 5.9.

Fruit of „Orange Red‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Harcot‟ was selected by R. E. Layne in 1977, at Harrow Research Station by Lake Ontario in Canada, from the seedlings produced by Hough in New Jersey. Among its parent varieties we can find

‗Perfection‘ and ‗Phelps‘ as well beside several small-fruited, frost tolerant cultivars from North America.

It is widespread in temperate zone areas of North America and Europe. In Hungary it was certified by the state in 2004. It starts ripening on the last days of June near Budapest. The fruit is middle sized, but can grow large at a smaller fruit load. Shape is ovate, conically narrowing towards the pedicel,

elongated, slightly flattened at sides (Figure 5.10.). Colour of flesh and skin is dark orange. 20-40% of its surface is covered by a burgundy colour, a very pleasing appeal. Its flesh is solid, moderately juicy, sweet, tasty. Freestone, the kernel is sweet. Fruits of overloaded trees are very weak in taste and in substance. The tree is moderately vigorous, a little bit upright and then open in habit, tending to be dense. Self-sterile flowers bloom early. Recommended pollinators are ‘Ceglédi Piroska‘ and ‘Gönci magyar kajszi‘. Tolerant to plum pox (Sharka) virus, highly susceptible to fungal diseases. Its winter frost tolerance is moderate, flowers are often damaged in plain production areas with frost risk.

Figure 5.10.

Fruit of „Harcot‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Korai zamatos‟ was bred by Andrzej Pedryc and István Tamássy (Corvinus University Budapest).

In Hungary it was certified by the state in 2002. It ripens on the first days of July. The fruit is middle sized, flattened from the pedicel and the apex. The skin is matt, ground colour is orange, a red cover colour develops on surfaces exposed to sunlight (Figure 5.11.). Fruit flesh is orange, moderately firm, very fibrous, highly tasty and odorous, has a different flavour than traditional Hungarian varieties. It‘s highly sweet and poor in acids at full maturity. Fruit flesh is highly clingstone. The tree is vigorous, strongly upright in habit, loose structure, hardly branching. Starts to bloom early, but the blooming is prolonged, therefore its frost tolerance is relatively good compared to early ripening varieties. Its fertility affairs are not yet cleared, but practically it can be considered as self-sterile, and must be planted with early blooming varieties. Moderately susceptible to Pseudomonas (bacterial canker), gnomonia leaf spot and plum pox virus. Susceptible to Monilia.

Figure 5.11.

Fruit of „Korai zamatos‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Veecot‟ originates from Canada. Its middle sized fruits are very pleasing. The bright dark orange ground colour is covered by red (Figure 5.12.). Colours early, the flesh is solid, tasty, not too juicy.

Makes a great compote. Its kernel is bitter. The tree is moderately vigorous, with good frost tolerance, yields regularly. Self-sterile, its most suitable pollinators are not yet cleared. Tolerant to plum pox (Sharka) virus, but highly susceptible to Monilia.

Figure 5.12.

Fruit of „Veecot‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Goldrich‟ originates from America. It was bred by Fogle and Toyama in Prosser (Washington) by crossing ‗Sunglo‘ and ‗Perfection‘. It ripens on the first days of July. Its fruit is large, ovate, flattened at the sides. The orange skin develops only a little red cover colour (Figure 5.13.). Its flesh is firm, orange and has a good taste only in total maturation, acidic. Its kernel is bitter. The tree is moderately vigorous, upright in habit. Self-sterile, flowers bloom early. Shows a partial resistance to plum pox virus. Not suitalble for processing. It has become quite significant in new plantations in temperate zone areas of Europe.

Figure 5.13.

Fruit of „Goldrich‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Hargrand‟ was bred in Canada. In Hungary it ripens in the middle of July, a few days after ‗Gönci magyar kajszi‘. Its fruits are large, with small stone, globular, flattened at pistil point. Their ground colour is evenly orange with no or only a little cover colour (Figure 5.14.). The fruits have a high sugar content and a medium acid content, tasty at maturity. The flesh is firm, can be machine-selected and shipped for distant markets. Its fruits with matt surface are not very pleasing by the artificial light in the

supermarkets, this can hinder its spreading. Suitable for processing (jam, compote). Self-sterile variety, according to literature data they mutually pollinate each other well with cultivar ‗Orange Red‘. Its yield safety is good, moderately susceptible to diseases. Tree size is medium, has an open canopy.

Figure 5.14.

Fruit of „Hargrand‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Harogem‟ originates also from Canada. Its very pleasing, firm fleshed fruits are perfectly suitable for the fresh market. It ripens a week after ‗Gönci magyar kajszi‘. It can only be produced with a careful plant protection, because of its high susceptibility to diseases. The fruits are ovate, middle-sized. The bright dark orange skin develops a dark red cover colour (Figure 5.15.). It can easily be transported with its firm flesh. Its tasty fruits have a high sugar content and a low acid content. Frost and winter tolerance is good. Flowering time is varying. Its tendency to self-fertility is not yet cleared, but yields regularly when planted together with other Canadian cultivars.

Figure 5.15.

Fruit of „Harogem‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Ceglédi szilárd‟ was bred in the Fruit Research Institute of Cegléd, and was certified by the state in 2011. This is the long-awaited new Hungarian cultivar of the late harvesting period. It ripens 10-12 days after ‗Gönci magyar kajszi‘. The fruits are medium sized, has a little elongated globular form. The orange ground colour develops a red cover colour (Figure 5.16.). Fruit flesh is orange, firm, freestone, tasty. Self-sterile variety. The flowers bloom late. It has a moderate frost tolerance. Susceptible to plum pox virus. The tree is moderately vigorous, can easily be formed.

Figure 5.16.

Fruit of „Ceglédi szilárd‟ at the cultivar demonstration of Fruit Research Institute of Cegléd in 2011

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Litoral‟ was bred in Romania. It starts ripening 14 days after ‗Gönci magyar kajszi‘, the harvesting period is on the last days of July near Budapest. The fruits are medium-sized, elongated, very pleasing with their nice red cover colour. Their ground colour and flesh colour is light, almost lemon (Figure 5.17.). This represent a unique fruit quality, very similar to the fashionable variety ‗Vanilla Cot‘. Its fruit is aromatic, tasty, a bit acidic, has a firmer flesh than traditional Hungarian cultivars. Suitable mostly for fresh market. Blooms in middle period. Self-fertile, but it‘s better to be planted together with other cultivars. Its flower buds are frost susceptible in winter, therefore suitable only for hilly production areas with balanced climate.

Figure 5.17.

Fruit of „Litoral‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Comandor‟ was created in Romania by crossing. It ripens at the end of July. The fruits are medium-sized. The light orange ground colour develops a bright red cover colour, it is very pleasing (Figure 5.18.). Their flesh is firm, light orange, tasty, clingstone. Self-fertile cultivar, the yield safety is improved, if planted together with late flowering varieties. The flowers bloom late. Has a good frost tolerance in winter.

Figure 5.18.

Fruit of „Comandor‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

„Sirena‟ was bred by V. Cociu and his colleagues in Romania. In Hungary it ripens at the end of July. Its medium-sized fruits are a little elongated, flattened at the sides. The skin is light orange, covered by a red colour (Figure 5.19.). Their flesh is firm, light orange, tasty. Develops a small, weeping canopy. Its late-blooming flowers are self-fertile. For a better yield safety it is advisable to plant it together with late-flowering Romanian cultivars. Winter frost tolerance of the flower buds is good.

Figure 5.19.

Fruit of „Sirena‟

(Photo: L. Szalay)

In document Evaluation of fruit cultivars (Pldal 94-111)