Introduction and evaluation of nectarine cultivars in Crimea

In 2015 the collection of Nikita Botanical Garden comprises 156 cultivars and forms of nectarine. It was noticed that central Asian cultivars of nectarine (from Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) are characterized by fruit of medium size, rounded and ovate form, yellow or white pulp, predominantly fibrous consistence and cover coloration of 50-70%. Tasting assessment of fruits ranged from 3.0 to 4.8 points (according to the 5-point scale). The best fruit quality within this group was demonstrated by the cultivars 'Kzil Shalili', and 'Sorok let Uzbekistana'. All the cultivars have medium and late terms of ripening. Fruits of West European cultivars (from Great Britain, Italy, Spain) vary from small to big, round form, with yellow or white pulp of fibrous consistence. Cover coloration of fruit was predominantly from 75 to 100% of the surface. Tasting assessment of fruits varied from 3.8 to 4.6 points. The best fruit quality was demonstrated by the cultivar 'Venus'. Eastern European cultivars and forms (from Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova) are characterized by small and medium fruits, predominantly with yellow fibrous pulp and tasting assessment from 3.0 to 4.8 points. The best cultivars of this group are 'Kievskij', 'Skif', and 'Hemus'. Among the cultivars of Chinese origin may be allocated only the cultivar 'Kohinhinskij' that is characterized by big fruits with fine taste. Cultivars of North American origin (USA) are characterized by fruits predominantly of medium and big size. Fruits are flat-round, round and ovate. Cultivars with yellow pulp of fibrous consistence and intensive (75-100%) cover coloration of fruits are predominant. Tasting assessment of fruits ranged from 3.0 to 4.8 points. The best fruit quality and taste were demonstrated by the cultivars 'Le Grand', 'Red Gold' and 'Big Top'. Thereby for nectarine breeding and improving taste and quality of fruits the most perspective way is to use the cultivars of North American origin.