Selecting apricots with good fruit quality and resistance to late spring frosts in Gürün

Growth vigour, productivity, fruit characteristics, resistance to late spring frosts and phenological characteristics were studied in native apricot populations at Gurun in 1990–1992. There was much variation in the response of flowerbuds to extreme frost in winter and in flowers to late spring frost. The greatest resistance to late spring frost was shown by selection 226 which flowered at 1270 m in mid-May. Selection 226 flowered 8-10 days later than Hacihaliloglu. The lowest temperatures at flowering time were - 4.5° C and - 4.1° C in 1990 and 1992 respectively. Selection 117 ripened in mid-October, 63–73 days later than Hacihaliloglu.