Selection of apricot cultivars as sources of drought resistance for breeding

Abstract

The studies were conducted in 2023-2025 at the gene pool site located in the Central Department of the Federal State Funded Scientific Institution «NBG-NNC». The work used generally accepted methods. Adaptation to environmental conditions is one of the main reasons limiting the spread of apricot plants in different climatic zones. A wide variety of soil and climatic conditions of natural regions determines the breadth of requirements for cultivars. In recent years, an increase in the average monthly air temperature and a decrease in the amount of precipitation during the growing season of the crop have been recorded on the Southern Coast of Crimea. This leads to weak formation of fruit buds, a shortened dormant period, decreased frost resistance, and a decrease in the average weight and quality of fruits. All this leads to a decrease in yield. It was found that the leaves of plants more resistant to drought give off less water during the wilting process than the leaves of less resistant plants. A direct relationship was found between high turgor recovery of leaves and their increased water-holding capacity (r=0.63-0.81, with a probability of 95%). It has been established that the cultivars of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens and domestic selection are more adapted to the arid conditions of the southern region of Russia than the introduced ones. It is recommended to use the selected genotypes in further breeding work when creating new domestic cultivars for the south of Russia with a set of valuable economic and biological traits.