NEW PROMISING SELECTIONS OF EARLY APRICOTS

The Mediterranean area is the most important for apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) growing in Spain, and into that area, the Valencia – and Murcia regions are those that have the largest zones for that – culture, especially Murcia with more than 60% of the Nation’s production.

Although the “Bulida” variety is the most commonly grown in Murcia, there are many other varieties, earlier or later, some of them have important potential value also, as the apricot culture in that region has an old tradition.

A field prospection and subsequent clonal and sanitary selection of the early varietites of apricot were initiated in 1975 by the author together with a group of the Hortofruticulture Department.

The true origin of these varieties is unknown; however most of them are supposed to be started from sowing of stones, a method of propagation traditionally used for that species, up to the beginning of this century.
Once the grafting practices were being used, the trees presenting similar characteristics were being grouped under a single name, thus appearing the names of varieties being grown at present.

During the two first years, a prospection of the cultivated areas was conducted, and also all the varieties were sketched.
Subsequently, once the orchards were located, and the material under culture identified, a clonal and sanitary selection of the best clones found among the most valuable varieties was carried out.

VII Symposium on Apricot Culture and Decline

A. MARTINEZ-CUTILLAS

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1983.121.27