Evaluation of apricot hybrids in Romania

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivation in Romania has declined in the last 20 years due to the ageing of existing plantations and their uprooting. In the last ten years this decline has been accentuated due to climate change, which is increasingly affecting this crop by reducing production in the years when late frosts and returning frosts occurs. If in the 2000s about 500 ha were cultivated in the southeast part of the country, currently the surface cultivated is about 250 ha. For these reasons, it is necessary to evaluate new perspective selections in order to introduce them in the assortment. During 2017-2021, at RSFG Constanta the C4R8T147 and C4R9T21 apricot selections were evaluated. These selections have late flowering period (02.04-06.04), good yields (10-14 t ha^‑1) and valuable fruit organoleptic traits. ‘Goldrich’ was used as a control being appropriate at ripening period. In the studied years, the dry matter was between 11 and 14% and the total acidity between 0.9 and 1.9 g% malic acid. The two selections can be registered in the official catalogue of varieties for the enriching of the apricot assortment and can be recommended to local fruit producers.