THE RESULTS OF CLONAL SELECTION OF POZEGACA PRUNE, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO FRUIT SIZE

Considering the economic significance of prunes growing in Yugoslavia, especially of Pozegaca prune cultivar, the clonal selection within this prune was carried out at the Fruit Research Institute, Cacak, during the 1951–1960 period, as well as comparative study of its selected clones during 1961–1976, with special reference to fruit size.

Over the mentioned period, a total of 24 selected clones of Pozegaca were singled out, differing in vigour, bearing, leaf shape, age, ripening time and fruit size.

On the basis of comparative studies of these clones, the clonal selection of Pozegaca for fruit size within its population proved to be very complex, which is particularly due to its being genetically conditioned by later commencement of bearing and its having smaller fruits in the first years of bearing.

Out of 24 selected clones only 6 clones had genetically conditioned larger fruits (Lj. 29/14, Lj.PBR 12/15, GM 1/29, Lj.PBR 15/4, Lj.PBR 15/5 and PBR 35/19), 17 clones were modifications and 1 clone originated from a spontaneous hybrid seedling (SO).

Selected positive clones have, on average, larger fruits than those of the standard Pozegaca, which, as a rule, becomes fully expressed under favourable soil and climatic growing conditions.