Introduction to the Variety Characteristics and Cultivation Management of Apricot

Rosaceae, Prunus genus, perennial deciduous fruit tree, tree or shrub, also known as common apricot. Scientific name Prunus armeniaca L. Apricot originated in China. Apricot cultivation existed 2,600 years ago. Around the 2nd century BC it spread via the "Silk Road" to Iran, Armenia, Greece, Rome and the countries along the Mediterranean coast, in the 10th century to Japan, and after the 18th century to Europe, the Americas and other places. In 1988 world apricot production was 2.112 million tonnes, mainly in Asia. Apricot cultivation in China is most concentrated in the provinces of the Yellow River basin. Tree height 6-8 m, maximum tree height over 10 m, the largest of the stone fruit trees. Crown open or semi-open, of natural round-headed shape. Trunk bark irregularly longitudinally fissured, dark grey-brown or black-brown. One-year-old branches red-brown or dark purple, upright, slanting, glossy, with numerous lenticels; perennial branches grey-brown. Leaves large, nearly round or broadly ovate, leaf base round or nearly heart-shaped, leaf margin with blunt rounded serrations, leaf colour dark green, new leaves at the tip of young shoots red. Flowers solitary, bisexual, corolla diameter 2-4 cm; sepals ovate or elliptic, petals white or pink; stamens 20-40, pistil 1, mainly covered with downy hairs. Fruit round, oblate to oblong, weight 20-80 g, maximum up to over 180 g; when ripe the skin is orange-yellow, yellow, pale yellow, greenish-white, with or without a red blush on the sunny side; flesh greenish-white, pale yellow, orange-yellow, taste sweet-sour or sweet-acid. Clingstone, freestone, semi-freestone, stone flat-round or flat-elliptic; kernel flat-round, taste bitter or sweet. Apricot trees bear fruit early and are long-lived; after planting they flower and fruit in 2-3 years, enter full bearing at 6-8 years, and the economic life can reach over 100 years. The apricot root system is strong and can penetrate deep into the soil; growth vigour is very strong, fast in the young tree stage and markedly weaker after fruiting. Buds have precocity, and latent buds can live 20-30 years. Apricot buds are divided into pure flower buds and leaf buds. In late March flower buds begin to swell, in early April flowering begins, the flowering period is 5-7 days, in mid-April new shoots begin to grow, in early May the first growth stops, in mid-May growth resumes, some also have a third growth, and in early July growth stops. After the flowers fade, heavy fruit drop begins when the fruit rapidly swells, in early May the apricot stone hardens, and in late May the fruit ripens successively. The growth period is 180-210 days, the fruit development period 50-90 days. Apricot can tolerate -30°C or lower temperatures, and tolerates high temperatures; at a summer maximum temperature of 43.4°C it can still grow and fruit normally. Apricot is a light-loving tree species with strong drought tolerance and is not demanding as to soil; it can grow normally on plains, high mountains, hills, sandy wasteland and mildly saline-alkali soil, but prefers well-drained, fairly fertile sandy loam or gravelly loam. The main varieties are divided into 6 variety groups: ① Central Asian variety group. ② European variety group. ③ Iran-Caucasus variety group. ④ Junggar-Trans-Ili variety group. ⑤ North China variety group. ⑥ East China variety group. The main cultivated varieties of apricot in China, by fruit use, can be divided into 3 categories: fresh use, kernel use and dual-purpose kernel-flesh use. The main varieties are: ① Lanzhou Dajie apricot. ② Huaxian Dajie apricot. ③ Sanyuan Cao apricot. ④ Daxiangbai apricot. ⑤ Chuanzhihong apricot. ⑥ Hongyu apricot. ⑦ Jidan apricot. ⑧ Shajinhong apricot. ⑨ Kezil Kumanti. ⑩ Longwangmao. Cultivated apricot is propagated by grafting; rootstocks include apricot seedlings, wild apricot (P. armeniaca var. ansu Maxim.), David peach (Prunus davidiana (Carr.) Franch.), plum, Japanese apricot, etc. Grafting methods include bud grafting, budding with wood, tongue grafting, bark grafting, root-bark grafting, etc. Pests and diseases include: fruit borers, leaf-eating pests, apricot kernel sawfly, red-necked longhorn beetle, apricot blister disease. Apricot fruit is nutritious; per 100 g of flesh it contains 10 g sugar, 0.9 g protein, 1.79 mg carotene, 0.02 mg vitamin B1, 0.03 mg vitamin B2, 0.6 mg vitamin P, 7 mg vitamin C, 2.6 mg calcium, 2.4 mg phosphorus. Sweet apricot kernels are sweet, fragrant and crisp, containing 23% protein, 50-60% crude fat, about 10% carbohydrates and the minerals phosphorus, iron, calcium and potassium. Apricot kernels can be pressed for oil, with an oil yield of 45%, and the oil is edible.