Investigaton in the plum orchard of NARIC Fruit and Ornamental Research Institute in Cegléd

Plum and apricot genebank collections of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Institute of Horticultural Science, Research Centre for Fruit Growing in Cegléd (Hungary) were established in the 1960s. The plum collection contains 385 accessions. ‘Purpurovaja’, ‘Ruth Gerstetter’ and ‘W.35 Myr. 368-2A’ are the earliest ripening cultivars harvested at the beginning of June. The cultivar collection is not virus free, but some cultivars (‘Albatros 2’, ‘Brassai’ and ‘Pacifiq’) remained virus free for a period of 15 years. Processed fruits of plums ‘Opál’, ‘Čačanska Najbolja’ and ‘Čačanska Rodna’ seemed most suitable for compote, while ‘Zimmers Frühzwetche’ and ‘Valjevka’ for juice. Plums ‘Centenar’, ‘Gabrovska’ and ‘Gras Ameliorat’ were found most appropriate for jam. Aim of our rootstock experiment is the investigation of effects of the commonly used ‘Myrobalan C.162.’ rootstock for plum cultivars compared to eight, different rootstocks from abroad. Long-term results will be useful for nurseries and producers too in terms of extension of rootstock supplies. We planted ‘Čačanska Lepotica’, ‘Haroma’ and ‘Toptaste^® Kulinaria(S)’ plum cultivars on ‘Myrobalan C 162’, ‘GF 677’, ‘Marianna’, ‘Ishtara^®’ (‘Ferciana’), ‘Myrobalan 29 C’, ‘Pumiselect^®’, ‘Wangenheim’, ‘St. Julien A’, ‘Wavit^®’ and ‘Penta^®’ rootstocks. Every combination was tested in 20 replications. First year results showed that every parameter of ‘GF 677’ was significantly higher than ‘Myrobalan C.162’ applied as control.