COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF APPLE VARIETIES UNDER AZERBAIJAN CONDITIONS

Abstract

Results are given from long-term (1980-2013) studies of biological and economic characters of more than 200 apple varieties grown in the Kuba-Khachmasskaya zone of Azerbaijan. All the varieties can be divided into the following groups: local; introduced before 1980; bred by the breeders of Azerbaijan; introduced for the last 35 years. There are presented pomological descriptions of the apple varieties as to major economic characters: productivity, fruit weight, taste, marketability, contents of dry matter, sugars, acid, vitamin C. Such characteristics of the varieties as resistance to apple scab, keeping capacity, level of profitability are shown. For this period, the following varieties have been selected as to a complex of valuable traits, and transferred to the State Variety Trial to be further introduced in commercial gardens: Shirvan Gozeli, Quishliq girmizi Cibir, Shixi cani, Quizil Ahmedi, Ayyubi, Papirovka, Uttared, Slava pobeditelyam, Sosikoli reneti, Quandil sinab, Mantuanskoye, Fahima, Nasimi, Neftchilara hadiyya, Eva, Golden Delishes, Golden spur, Starkcrimson, Royal red Delishes and Qrinq.