GROWTH, YIELDING AND TREE SURVIVABILITY OF SEVERAL APRICOT CULTIVARS ON MYROBALAN AND 'WANGENHEIM PRUNE' SEEDLINGS

Abstract. Strong vigour of apricot trees can be reduced by using the proper rootstock. Rootstock affects not only vigour but high and quality of yield and the lifespan of the trees as well. In autumn of 2006, the experiment with new apricot cultivars grafted on Myrobalan and ‘Wangenheim Prune ’ seedlings was established at the Fruit Experimental Station near Wrocáaw. Trees of ‘Morden 604 ’ (as a control), ‘Goldrich’, ‘Harlayne’, ‘Hargrand’, ‘Darina’, ‘Sirena ’ and ‘Kompakta ’ cvs. were planted in four replications with two trees per plot. In comparison to Myrobalan seedling rootstock, the trees grafted on ‘Wangenheim Prune ’ seedlings grew significantly weaker. The most vigorous genotypes were ‘Morden 604 ’ (control), whereas the least vigorous was ‘Kompakta’. Up to the 5th year after planting, the highest total yield was recorded for ‘Morden 604 ’ and ‘Hargrand ’ on Myrobalan seedlings. Significantly higher yields gave trees on Myrobalan seedling root-stock. The rootstock had no influence on mean fruit weight. In the autumn of 2010, most of dead trees was observed with ‘Darina’, especially on ‘Wangenheim Prune ’ seedlings.