The resistance of apricot genotypes to the attack of certain pathogens in Romania

Among the pathogens which have an economic importance for the apricot tree culture, because of the fact that they are involved in the premature demise of this fruit-growing species are the following fungi: Monilinia laxa, Cytospora cincta and Stigmina carpophila. These pathogen agents cause severe diseases that affect not only the fruit production but the life of the trees itself, taking into account the climatic conditions of a specific year and especially the soil’s sensitivity. The aim of this research is to highlight the genotypes that are the most resistant to pathogens and their behaviour towards the pathogens attack in the soil-climatic conditions of Romania. With regard to the attack of the Monilinia laxa fungus, the majority of the studied cultivars proved to be tolerant (T). The ‘Orizont’, ‘Danubiu’, ‘Cristal’ and ‘Olimp’ cultivars displayed sensitivity (S) towards Monilinia laxa. In this pathogen’s case, we must mention the fact that the sensitivity of the cultivar is also influenced by the environmental conditions of each studied year. The cultivars that are very resistant, basically not attacked by Monilinia laxa and Cytospora cincta are ‘Traian’, ‘Tudor’, ‘Elmar’, ‘Ovidius’ and ‘Amiral’, whereas the most sensitive cultivars to the attack of Cytospora cincta and Stigmina carpophila are (2013-2015) ‘Augustin’, ‘Histria’, ‘Cristal’ and ‘Euxin’. Following research and study, the resistant cultivars have been cultivated in the nursery orchard and the most valuable genotypes are being cultivated in commercial orchards, occupying a good place in the structure of the apricot tree assortment from the south-eastern part of Romania.