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THE RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION OF CHAENOMELES
JAPONICA IN THE COMMERCIAL PLANTATIONS
S.Ruisa
Dobele Horticulture Plant Breeding Experimental Station, Latvia
By now the total area of Ghaenomeles japonica plantations' ill
Latvia has increased to 300 hectares. The commercial plantations
sene a rich genctical material for the breeders, as these plants are
heterogeneous for habitus, productivity, fruit shape, fruit size, bio
chemical content, thorns etc. The evaluation of these plantations was
started in 1994. The most important criteria for selection were as
fallows:
1) high and regular yields;
2) good habitua and suitabilitp for mechanical harvesting;
3) winterhardiness;
4) thornless types;
5) high content of fruity acids and pectinous compounds;
6) early and even maturity;
As a results,43 seedlings were selectcd.The most productive of
them yielded 4,0 kg per bush. The average weight of fruits was 30 to
65 g. Most of the selected seedlings ripened early: at the first half of
September. Among the others, one promising selection showed the
highest indices of fruit flesh 1-1,4 cm. Most of the selections were
erect spreading types and seemed promising for mechanical harvest
and 7 seedlings had fruits with stalks (easier to shake fruits down
from the shrubs) . The selected seedlings were thornless. Most of
them W'ere disease resistant and winter hardy.
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