EVALUATION OF A GERMPLASM COLLECTION OF SOME FRUIT TREE VARIETIES CONCERNING GENETIC RESISTANCE TO ABIOTIC FACTORS

In the actual context, when a climate of global warming is evident, activities of researchers all over the world are sensitive to create new varieties and hybrids of fruit trees adaptable to the new climatic conditions. In Romania, during the period January-April 2007, the clime suffered profound changes. Instead of a winter with low temperatures and rainfall, the spring was warm, rainless, alternating with a few cold days with low temperatures (-9°C). These climatic conditions affected very much the life cycle of peach, nectarine, and apricot varieties. In this study, we propose to evaluate the genetic resistance toward abiotic factors of some apricot, peach, and nectarine genotypes aiming at their use in a breeding program. The observations were done on 15 peach and nectarine varieties and six apricot varieties, looking to pollen germination capacity. Open pollination and self-pollination were studied in 23 peach and nectarine varieties and 12 apricot varieties. Bud resistance toward low temperatures in 30 peach and nectarine varieties and 20 apricot varieties was evaluated.