Genetic Potential of Prunus L. and Its Use in Selection of Apricot Cultivars and Rootstocks

The article deals with possibilities and directions of using form diversity of P. armeniaca and Prunus L. cultivars in programmes on creation of cultivars and apricot rootstock. Results are considered in search for donors and sources of properties valuable for apricot selection in representatives of this genus. Information is provided about new perspectives of interspecies apricot hybrids. Genotypes are specified with high winter hardiness, long period of dormancy and late blossoming cultivars 'Zard', 'Orangevy', 'Krasny', 'Kakalinsky luchshiy', 'Shlor-ciran' and 'Vynoslivy'. Sources of resistance to Monilia cinerea and Clasterosoporium carpofillum are the cultivars 'Zard', 'Nikolayev 19', 'Kakalinsky luchshiy', 'Smolensky ranniy', 'Monarezi' and 'Ciran-salor zheltiy'. Valuable clonal rootstocks have been produced: 'Alab 1' (P. cerasifera x P. armeniaca), 'Druzhba' (P. pumila x P. armeniaca) and some others. Winter-hardy and resistant plumcot cultivars have been produced: 'Colibri', 'Kubansky chorny' (P. rossica x P. armeniaca), 'Plumcot kubansky' (P. rossica x P. dasycarpa Pers.) and 'Chorny Barhat' (P. dasycarpa). A large-fruited industrial cultivar of plumcot, 'Globus' (P. rossica x (P. cerasifera x P. armeniaca), has also been produced.