Evaluation of pioneer and hollywood plum cultivars under sandy soil conditions in Egypt [electronic resource]
تقييم صنفي البرقوق " البيونير والهوليود" تحت ظروف الاراضي الرملية في مصر
- p. 411-424.
Includes bibliographic reference
This investigation was conducted for two successive seasons (2013/2014 and 2014/2015) in a private orchard in Regwa district at Giza qovernorate, Egypt to evaluate mature trees of "Pioneer and Hollywood" plum cultivars budded on "Nemagard" rootstock. The chosen trees were seven years old, grown in a sandy soil, spaced at 4 X 4 meters apart, irrigated by the drip system. The results revealed that Pioneer was earlier than Hollywood with regard to the phenological studies, which was three to four days earlier for onset of flowering, full bloom and onset of fruit set dates, due to less chilling requirements of Pioneer trees than Hollywood trees to end the dormancy period. While, Pioneer cv. recorded higher number of days from full bloom till maturity date (71& 91days) and Hollywood cv. recorded (61 & 83 days) in the both seasons respectively. Hollywood trees were in an upright form with pink blossoms, dark purple foliage, medium-sized and round fruit with rich flavor and blood-red flesh and skin. Pioneer trees were in a spread form with white blossoms, green foliage, bright red skin and the a pale yellow flesh. Regarding the vegetative growth traits, it was noticed that Hollywood cv. attained the highest significant values of shoot diameter and length, leaf number, leaf area and total chlorophyll as compared to Pioneer in both seasons. With respect to yield attributes and fruit physiochemical characteristics, Pioneer cv. was the significant highest values of yield, fruit weight and dimensions, whereas Hollywood cv. had significantly the highest percentage of the total soluble solids and the lowest percentage of acidity in both seasons. Concerning histological studies, the two cultivars showed similar levels of partially self-incompatible. Pioneer cv. had a higher degree of partial self-incompatibility than Hollywood cv. So, they need additional cultivars as pollinators for good growing and fruiting. As for the storability, it was clear that Pioneer and Hollywood fruits kept a good characteristics, expressed decrease of fruit weight loss and improvement of fruits physical and chemical characteristics, including the increase of fruit color, total soluble solids and the decrease of juice acidity during cold storage period at 2 °C and 90-95 % RH for three weeks. Therefore, the widespread cultivation of these two cultivars in Egypt is recommended.