The timing of blooming in spring is highly crucial for temperate zone tree
fruit production. In this study, we aimed to investigate floral development
using the all parents and full-sib offsprings of two different crossing
combinations (?Ka?el 37? ? ?Delbarestivale? and ?Ka?el 41? ? ?Williams?
Pride?). Assessments of variability in floral development have been done
according to a numerical assessment scheme defined by ten stages (stage 0-9).
The assessments were conducted three different dates, early (21 04),
intermediate (28 04), and late (05 05). The results showed significant
variations for floral development among the 273 genotypes. In particular, the
genotypes 326, 340, 369, 88 and 146 were found as superiors for floral
development. The broad sense heritability (h2 b) for floral development was
reliable on the first assessment date, with no reliability on the other
assessment dates. Our results would be useful to geneticists and breeders.
Key words: Amasya, breeding, F1, Malus slyvestris, new cultivar, progeny,
spring frost.