The apricot varieties in our country are diversified, including at the same time local and foreign varieties, varieties having quality fruits, very productive, some of them having a good resistance to low temperatures during the pause period, but also a good resistance to late spring frosts. Due to its early beginning of phenophases and early flowering, it frequently gets affected by the late frosts that come in spring.  This species is recommended to be cultivated in the plain area of Banat because of the favourable climate, but we have to mention that the appearance of late frosts in spring, more and more frequent in the past years, has a high negative impact upon the production. That is why it is necessary to know the varieties behaviour in order to establish which of them can be cultivated in the climatic conditions of Banat plain area. Like wise, there will be considered some other variants which might influence the varieties behaviour versus their resistance to spring late frosts. Among these, we chose, in the past years, to apply green pruning, which beneath its advantages proved to be favourable by delaying the flowering with couple of days, which were sufficient so that the flowers or bind fruits not to be affected. For example in 2009, when the late frosts appeared they affected less the varieties, while in 2007 and 2008 when, because of the high temperatures in February, the apricot trees started their phenophases and they were strongly affected by the late frosts that appeared in March. Though the researches concerning the flowering biology are not new, it is important to know the mentioned aspects because the pedoclimatic conditions influence differently the cultivated varieties. During 2006-2009, twelve varieties of apricot, cultivated in conditions of the Didactic Station of our University, were observed and studied: Earlyryl, Dana, Neptun, Saturn, Cea mai buna de Ungaria (witness), Venus, Callatis, Sulina, Favorit, Selena, Silvana and Olimp. There were noted the development of fruiting phenophases of these varieties, the number of flowers per tree, the number of binded fruits and the influence of the climatic conditions in that period upon the fruit binding degree, the number of fruits left on the tree after the physiological fall of fruits and at harvesting.  Knowing how the apricot varieties behave in conditions of Banat plain area and also some technological culture practices, those who are interested can choose a certain variety group, which can offer high and constant productions.

apricot; varieties; late frosts; phenophases; bind fruits

Presentation: oral