EVALUATION OF CIDER APPLE CULTIVARS GROWN IN FRUIT GROWING ECOSYSTEM MĂRĂCINENI

Cider apple fruit growing is a special branch of horticulture considering that the varieties for cider are different from other apple varieties by the fruit chemical composition (high polyphenol content), and also by the specific agronomic characters (type of growth, vigor, alternate fruit bearing). Nowadays, at Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania researches are carried out, in order to identify some cider varieties adapted to the pedoclimatic conditions, varieties that can be extended in commercial plantations. This paper presents the results registered during 2020-2022 regarding vigor, precocity, fruit attributes and behavior of specific disease (scab, powdery mildew, fire blight) for 22 cultivars, with different origin ('Marie Ménard', 'DouceMoën', 'Kermerrien', 'Juliana', 'Judor', 'Jurella', 'Judeline', 'Judaine' from France; 'Dabinett', 'Ellis Bitter', 'Harry Masters Jersey', 'Major' from England; 'Cortland', 'Golden Russet', 'Grimes Golden', 'Gravestein Rouge', 'Norther Spy', 'Liberty' and 'Virginia Crab' from USA; 'Mc Intosh', 'Red Mc Intosh' and 'Geneva' from Canada )grafted on two rootstocks (MM106 and M9). In the first three years after planting, 'Judeline', 'DouceMoȅn' and 'Golden Russet' cvs.grafted on M9, show a low vigor. The total solid soluble content ranged between 12.6% at 'Harry Masters Jersey' cv. and 18.9% at 'Judaine' cv. The highest value of fruit firmness was recorded at 'Judaine' cv. (8.21kgf/cm2), 'Virginia Crab' (7.98 kgf/cm2), 'Jurella' (7.97 kgf/cm2), and 'Dabinett' (7.84kgf/cm2), and the lowest value was recorded for 'Cortland' cv. (6.12kgf/cm2) and 'Judor' (6.55 kgf/cm2). 'NortherSpy' cv. show a high sensitivity to apple scab, 'Cortland', 'Grimes Golden' and 'Liberty' cvs. to powdery mildew, 'Harry Master Jersey' and 'Dabinett' cvs. to fire blight.