EVALUATION OF NEWLY INTRODUCED PLUM (Prunus salicina Lindl.) CULTIVARS UNDER MID-HILLS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2016
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ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of newly introduced plum (Prunus salicina
Lindl.) cultivars under mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out on six to eight year old
plum cultivars established in the experimental orchard of Horticultural Research and Training Station
and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kandaghat in district Solan, Himachal Pradesh under sub-temperate
region for their suitability for commercial cultivation. The experiment was laid out in Randomized
Block Design with five replications of each cultivar planted at a spacing of 5 x 5 m during 2015.
Observations were recorded in respect of tree vigour, flowering, fruiting characteristics and
biochemical parameters of fruits. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among all the
cultivars for all the characters under study. Maximum tree vigour was recorded in ‘Shiro’ with respect
to tree spread, tree volume, annual shoot growth and pruning weight. Maximum tree height (3.98 m),
leaf area (18.36 cm2), earliest bud burst (7th February) and flowering (13th February) was observed in
Red Beaut cultivar. Maximum duration of flowering (16 days) was recorded in ‘Red Beaut’ while
minimum (12 days) in ‘Shiro’. The highest fruit set (24.08 %), fruit retention (34.89 %), yield (7.30
kg/tree) and minimum fruit drop was recorded in ‘Shiro’. Harvest date was recorded to be earliest
(29th May) in Red Beaut cultivar with shortest duration of 96 days for maturity. ‘Frontier’ was
recorded with maximum fruit size, weight, volume and pulp to stone ratio, whereas, quality attributes
like fruit firmness, TSS, total sugars and sugar to acid ratio were found distinguishingly desirable in
‘Black Amber’ and all these fruit quality attributes were in close proximity to ‘Duarte’. From the
present investigations it can be concluded that out of newly introduced cultivars, ‘Black Amber’ and
‘Duarte’ may be suggested for cultivation in mid-hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh and can provide
alternative to change the monotony of ‘Santa Rosa’ in order to stretch the production season, fulfill
consumer ever-changing taste and better remuneration to the growers. These studies on different
cultivars may be continued further at different locations prior to recommendation for commercial
cultivation in sub-temperate and mid-hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh