30 YEARS OF APRICOT BREEDING IN NEW JERSEY

The principal problem has been that of adaptation to the climate of the tree fruit growing areas of northeastern North America, particularly New Jersey.

Special problems are the development of resistance of trees and flower buds to fluctuating temperatures during late winter and in spring (including late blooming), the development of apricots resistant to diseases of this humid region, especially resistance to bacterial leaf spot, Xanthomonas pruni and to stem cankers, Cytospora species and Pseudomonas species.

The development of cultivars with fruit ripening ahead of “Red-haven” peach with large size and quality acceptable for fresh market would provide the basis of a new fruit industry for the region.

Principal sources of adaptation were seedling trees selected in the humid Northeast, that had a record of health and consistent fruitfulness.
Climatic adaptation was also obtained from selections from other breeding programs, some of which included selections from P. mandshurica. Some of the selections in this group are late blooming.

We have had a continuing search for new germplasm from apricot breeders and variety testers throughout the world.

VII Symposium on Apricot Culture and Decline

L.F. HOUGH, C. H. BAILEY

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1983.121.23