QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MAIN BIOLOGICAL AND FRUIT QUALITY TRAITS OF F1 PLUM GENOTYPES (Prunus domestica L.)

Prunus domestica L. is the most important fruit crop in the Europe and the most important within the genus Prunus. Serbia is the third world producer, after USA and China, of that friut. The seven F-1 plum genotypes (Prunus domestica L.) which originated from three cross-combinations ('Cacanska Lepotica' x 'Stanley', 'Cacanska Najbolja' x 'Stanley', 'Stanley' x 'Stanley') and these cultivars as controls were planted in the experimental orchard in Prislonica, near Cacak, in spring 2000. In 2005-2007 several biological (blooming period, harvest date and yield) and main fruit quality traits were evaluated. Considerable variation was observed among the F-1 genotypes, i.e. cross-combinations. All genotypes begun blooming later than their parents. The earliest harvest date was observed in 'P-4' and the latest in 'P-7'. The highest yield was observed in 'P-5'. The genotype 'P-4' had better values for some fruit quality traits (fruit weight, fruit rate, flash rate, fruit height, suture diameter, cheek diameter, soluble solids, fructose and total sugars content), when compared with other F-1 genotypes and control cultivars. The genotypes with better biological and fruit quality traits were included in the 'Cacanska Lepotica' x 'Stanley' cross-combinations.