Nautiyal, M.C.Ravneet Kaur2019-04-252019-04-252004-07http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810101029The present investigation was carried out at experimental block, Department of Horticulture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Hill Campus, Ranichauri (Tehri Garhwal), Uttaranchal during February 2003 to June, 2004 on six apricot cultivars. The experiment was laid out in R.B.D. with 4 replications, and one tree as a unit/treatment unit. In the course of investigation, different parameters pertinent to growth, flowering, fruiting and physco-chemical composition of fruits were studied. Results from the present study reveal that all the apricot cultivars evaluated, showed a large scale variability with respect to different characters. Tree height varied from 3.75 m (New Castle) to 6.22 m (Safeda,), trunk girth ranged from 64.13 cm (New Castle) to 91.16 cm (Charmagz), tree spread ranged from 4.48 m (Moorepark) to 6.33 (Charmagz). There was significant variation in other characters also viz., duration of flowring (17-22 days), initation of flowering (23rd Feb. to 6th March), floer index (0.182 to 0.814), fruit set (8.20% to 50.44%), fruit retention (6.33% to 39.26%), fruit weight (19.36 g to 46.19 g), specific gravity (0.925 g/ml to 1.407 g/ml), pulp : stone ratio (8.30 to 14.51), fruit firmness (1.16 Kg/cm2 to 2.67 Kg/cm-2), yield (1.63 t/ha to 14.02 t/ha), days taken to maturity (70 days to 76 days), TSS (11.30oBrix to 19.30oBrix), acidity (0.277% to 1.880%), ascorbic acid (8.28 mg/100g to 14.60 mg/100g), total sugars (7.42% to 16.83%), reducing sugars (0.705% to 2.320%), non reducing sugars (5.70% to 15.32%). Based on the overall performance of the cultivars studies in present investigation, it can be concluded that though Safeda and Charmagz processed excellent or genotypic characteristics but, in terms of productivity, firmness and shelf life of fruits, New Castle proved to be the superior cultivar. The fruits of New Castle were found suitable for long term storage and instant transportation, while New Large Early ranked next to New Castle in respect of yield potential. For commercial cultivation of apricot in the Central Himalayas, apricot cultivars New Castle and New Large Early have been found suitable in view to obtain maximum productivity per unit area in the mid-hills of Uttaranchal.ennullThesis