COMPORTMENT OF SOME NEW APPLE VARIETIES WIDELY SPREAD IN EU COUNTRIES WITHIN THE PEDOLOGIC AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS AT IP, SĂLAJ COUNTY

  • V. Mitre University of Agriculture Science and Veterinary Medicine,Cluj-Napoca
  • Ioana Ropan University of Agriculture Science and Veterinary Medicine,Cluj-Napoca
  • Ioana Mitre University of Agriculture Science and Veterinary Medicine,Cluj-Napoca
  • G. Ropan University of Agriculture Science and Veterinary Medicine,Cluj-Napoca

Abstract

Six new apple varieties (Granny Smith, Idared, Jonagold, Jonica, Pinova, Topaz), largely spread in EU culture were tested in comparative culture at Ip, County of Sălaj between 2004 and 2006. In the Interval of the respective years the trees were in their 3-5 years of normal fruit bearing. There were checked: fruit yield (t/ha); fruit weight (g); fruit volume (cm3); sugar content (%); titrable acidity (%) (Table 1). From production-point-view, the new varieties record, right with the first years of normal fruit bearing, high and very high levels (25-27 t/ha), comparatively with the “classic” varieties. Also, the majority of these varieties, when proper technologies are applied (fruit-thinning included), have the bulk of their fruits of large and very large dimensions (180-250 g), within the EXTRA quality of desert fruits. The sugar content and acidity of the fruits belonging to the respective varieties are in line with the variability limits of these traits in the apple (7.5-16.5% sugar content and 0.15-1.25 organic acids) (Cimpoieş, G., 2002). The highest yields are obtained as early as the beginning of the first years of fruit bearing with Jonagold, Idared, Pinova and Jonica (over 25 t/ha). All the varieties under study produce large and very large fruits (170-250 g); however, the varieties producing the largest ones proved to be Idared (254.56 g); Jonagold (222.89g), and Jonica (204.56g). Highest in sugar content were Granny Smith and Topaz (11-12 %), and highest in organic-acids content were recorded with these two varieties (0.67-0.53), too. Making apple-growing efficient in Romania implies the setting up of new plantations, super intensive, with competitive varieties, productive and of quality in demand on both inner and outer markets. Apple varieties largely spread in EU countries behave very well within the pedological and climatic conditions offered at Ip, County Salaj, which are similar to those present in the main fruit-growing basins of Transylvania.