Evaluation of the Resistance of Some Apricot Varieties Growing in Malatya to Winter Hardiness and Late Spring Frost

摘要

This study was performed at Malatya Fruit Research Institute, in order to determine the winter and spring frost resistance of 'Hasanbey', 'Hacihaliloglu', 'Cataloglu', 'Soganci' and 'Kabaasi' apricot varieties growing in Malatya between 1998-2000. Theflower buds of cultivars were exposed to artificial freezing tests for 4, 8 and 16 hours at -10, -15 and -20 °C during December, January and February. Liveliness ratios were evaluated after two hours freezing at the stages of bud burst (at -5, -10 and-12 °C), pink cluster (at -4, -7 and -9 °C), full bloom (at -1, -3 and -4°C), and post bloom (at -1, -2 and -4 °C). Frost resistance was found significantly higher in 1999-2000 than 1998-1999. Resistance of cultivars was the highest in January and the lowest in April (at the stage of post bloom). The applications of -20 °C during winter rest in November, December, January, -7 °C at pink cluster stage, -4 °C at full bloom stage and -2 °C at post bloom stage caused a total (100%) injury in all cultivars. The hardiest cultivars were 'Kabaasi', 'Soganci' and 'Hacihalioglu' at the stages of pink cluster, full bloom and post bloom, respectively.