SOLUBLE PROTEINS AND AMINOACIDS AS RELATED TO COLD HARDINESS IN SOME APRICOT VARIETIES BELONGING TO DIFFERENT GROUPS

In spite of the fact that many workers from different countries suggested that soluble protein plays a positive role in cold hardiness of many plants, very little is known about this role in apricot trees.
Donoho and Walker (1960) indicated that soluble protein nitrogen in peach trees was not correlated significantly with hardiness.
On contrast, Lasheen et al. (1970) working on 5 peach varieties indicated that a high soluble protein and a low total free amino acids were associated with increase in hardiness.
Recently, Boxby and Brown (1975) showed that protein synthesis has been implicated in the cold hardiness process.
They also found that at least 17 proteins from hardy balck locust seedlings were different from those of non-hardy ones.
EL-Mansy and Walker (1969) found that in early January there was a very high level of total amino acids in apricot flower buds.
A well understanding of the biochemical changes taking place during the period of cold hardiness may help breeders to select a valuable parents in apricot breeding programme.

In the present study 8 apricot varieties and hybrids were compared biochemically.
The aim of this comparison was undertaken to answer two questions: 1. are soluble proteins and amino acids play a positive role in cold hardiness of apricot trees ? 2. are the Siberian, Central-Asiatic and Irano-Caucasian apricots provide a high degree of cold hardiness than the European apricots in Hungary, and which of these varieties are provide a breeder with a new and potentially valuable source of cold hardiness in apricot breeding?

VII Symposium on Apricot Culture and Decline

I. TAMÁSSY, M. ZAYAN

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1983.121.14