A comparative assessment of winter hardiness in varieties and elites of domestic apple trees of various breeding in the conditions of the continental climate of the Samara region

Abstract

The research was carried out in order to assess the winter hardiness of apple varieties of the Oryol and Michurinsky selection, as well as the elite hybrids of the selection of the Scientific Research Institute of Horticulture and Medicinal Plants Zhigulevskie Sady in the conditions of the continental climate characteristic of the Samara region. Freezing of annual branches taken from trees of 1011 years of age was carried out in the laboratory under controlled conditions of a freezer at extreme negative temperatures for the 2nd (40C) and 4th (35C after thaw) components of winter hardiness. After freezing, their damage was assessed in April, the results were compared by years of research. Simultaneously with the assessment of winter hardiness in the laboratory, the general condition of trees of these varieties and elite hybrids was assessed in the field conditions of the experimental garden of the Scientific Research Institute of Horticulture and Medicinal Plants Zhigulevskie Sady, in August 2020 and 2021. The general condition and adaptation to low temperatures of the objects of the study were compared with dependence on the agro-climatic conditions of the growing season on the basis of meteorological data of the Samara GMC. During the study, varieties and elites of apple trees of various breeding with high winter hardiness were identified, surpassing control varieties such as Antonovka obyknovennaya, Kutuzovets, Severniy Sinap and others in this indicator. It is quite logical that winter-hardy apple trees, in the absence of winter damage, may have stronger immunity to diseases and resistance to pests. Therefore, the widespread introduction of new varieties and hybrids into industrial gardening will contribute to the creation of a more favorable agroecological environment in the gardens of the Samara region and the Middle Volga region.