Analysis of Morphological and Pomological Characteristics of Apricot Germplasm in FYR Macedonia

Morphological and pomological features were studied for two consecutive years in wild apricot seedlings grown under Macedonian environmental conditions. The population comprised of 19 seedlings, i.e. genotypes, that showed notable fruit and tree traits. Their flowering time and desirable fruit quality features were determined in comparison with ‘Hungarian Best’. In all genotypes, flowering occurred two days earlier than the control in both years, with the exception of end of flowering in the second year, whereas harvest time was later in seven genotypes than in ‘Hungarian Best’. Genotypes showed a range of 23.40±1.62 g to 89.29±2.98 g for fruit weight, 1.81±0.13 to 4.85±0.17 g for stone weight, 11.70±0.41 to14.40±0.55 °Brix for soluble solids, and 0.89±0.01 to1.89±0.02% for titratable acidity. Soluble solids was higher than 12% in eighteen genotypes. The pH ranged between 3.90±0.06 and 4.70±0.08. The contents of reducing sugars, sucrose, and total sugars ranged from 8.49±0.10 to 10.39±0.66%, 0.66±0.01 to 1.20±0.05%, and 9.34±0.19 to 11.36±0.19%, respectively. The genotypes were grouped into four clusters according to their potential. A high correlation was found among some quality traits. Using a principal component analysis, apricot genotypes were segregated into groups with similar physical and chemical features. These relationships may help in selection of a set of genotypes with better fruit quality performances, which, in our study, wre observed in DL-1/1/04, DL- 1/2/03, D-1/04, and K-5/04. Based on this evaluation, 19 outstanding genotypes were preselected from the initial breeding population for further studies.