Agronomic and fruit quality characteristics of the Bulgarian plum cultivar 'Pagane'

Prunus domestica L. is one of the most widely spread and commonly grown fruit species in Bulgaria. The breeding program of the Fruit Growing Institute for producing new plum cultivars has been active since 1987. 'Pagane' is the last registered cultivar resulting from it. In this study, its main agronomic and fruit quality characteristics from 2017 to 2020 are described. The cultivar'Os frost vulnerability, phenological stages, fresh fruits biometry, chemical characteristics, and fruit colour data are presented. 'Pagane' has high productivity and large (70.25 g), asymmetric fruits, with light violet skin ground colour and yellow fruit flesh. The average fruit ripening date is 17/08. Fully ripe fresh fruits are sweet with TSS content of about 17.5 °Brix, 12.58% total sugars, and a very low percentage of acidity - 0.36%. Sensory analyses of fresh and processed fruits were performed. Jelly, fresh and canned fruits were highly evaluated and appreciated by the testing panel of consumers.