Detailed Introduction to Fine Apricot Variety 98-8
98-8 is a fine new strain bred by the Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Through several years of cultivation observation, this strain has advantages such as large fruit, beautiful appearance, excellent quality, early fruiting, and strong productivity.
I. Main traits: The tree is vigorous, with an open tree posture, and medium bud germination and branching ability. The trunk and perennial branches are dark gray, one-year-old branches are brown, with many lenticels; the leaves are nearly round, dark green, relatively thick, and glossy. The fruit is nearly round, with a vertical diameter of 5.5 cm, a horizontal diameter of 5.6 cm, and a side diameter of 5.8 cm, and a flat fruit top; the average single fruit weight is 100 g, and the largest fruit weight is 180 g; the fruit surface is orange-yellow, with a red blush on the sunny side; the flesh is golden yellow, fine in texture, juicy, with few fibers, and sweet and fragrant in taste. The soluble solids content is 13.2%, the quality is superior, the stone is free, the kernel is sweet, the edible rate is 95.2%, and it can be stored for 5-7 days at room temperature. In the Zhengzhou area, flower buds begin to sprout in early March, flowering occurs in mid-to-late March, the flowering period is about 7 days, and the fruit ripens in early June.
Although this strain forms flower buds easily, a pollinator variety must still be configured. Generally, it bears fruit in the second year after planting, yields 600 kg per mu in the third year, 1,600 kg in the fourth year, and a mature orchard can yield 2,500-3,000 kg.
II. Key Points of Cultivation Techniques
(1) Close planting cultivation: Generally, the planting spacing of 2 m x 3 m is suitable, and 2 m x 4 m can be used when the soil is fertile. Varieties such as 98-6, Yangshao, and Kate can be selected as pollinating trees. (2) Training and pruning: An evacuated layered shape, open-center shape, or spindle shape can be used. The advantage of the spindle shape is that large fruiting branches are borne on the central leader, nutrient distribution and transport are easy, and the load capacity is relatively large.