EVALUATION OF SOME APPLE VARIETIES FROM THE NATIONAL COLLECTION FROM RSFG VOINEȘTI

Between 2019 and 2022, observations and determinations were made regarding the blooming phenology, productive potential, harvest maturity and fruit quality for a number of 35 apple varieties from the National Collection located at Research Station for Fruit Growing Voineşti, in order to identify potential parents, useful for the breeding program and sustainable development of apple growing. The national apple collection was released gradually, being permanently supplemented with new varieties of autochthonous and foreign origin. Currently, it has 696 genotypes, with a great variability and diversity of pomological characteristics. The planting distance is 4 m between row and 3 m between trees, the trees are grafted on 'M26' rootstock, with 3 trees / genotype. As a result of this study, a large variability of characters with significant differences was recorded. Example: the beginning of blooming varied from early to late and very late blooming; the average fruit weight (values between 75.25 g and 259.5 g); the dry matter varied from 10.62 to 16.83%; fruit firmness (between 5.66 and 12.63 kgf/cm2); the fruit ripening period (July-August for summer varieties till December-April for winter varieties). The paper recommends some cultivars with positive characteristics to use as parents in breeding work.