Plum
(P. salicina ) cultivars Alubokhara, Kala Amritsari, Kataru Chak,
Ladakh, Lalri, Titron and Zardalu Yellow were studied at Regional Fruit
Research Station, Bhatinda for their floral, morphological, yield and
physico-chemical characteristics. Titron was the earliest to flower (7
February) and Alubokhara the last (28 February). The largest flower size
(2.4 cm) was in Ladakh. The maximum number of flowers per spur as well
as flowers per 30-cm shoot length were recorded in Zardalu Yellow
whereas maximum stamens per flower were observed in Titron and spurs per
30-cm shoot length in Kala Amritsari. The cultivar Titron gave the
highest fruit yield (36 kg/tree) and Lalri the lowest (14.7 kg/tree).
The maximum fruit weight (13.5 g) and largest fruit size (2.7 x 2.7 cm)
were obtained from Titron whereas Lalri produced fruits with the lowest
weight (5.7 g) and smallest size (2.0 x 2.2 cm). The lowest stone weight
was recorded in Lalri (0.4 g) followed by Kala Amritsari (0.6 g) and
Titron (0.7 g). Lalri produced fruits with the highest TSS (16.1%)
followed by Titron (13.8%) and Kala Amritsari (11.8%). High acid content
was recorded in the fruits of Zardalu Yellow (1.6%) and the lowest in
Lalri (0.6%). On the basis of these characteristics, the cultivars
Titron and Kala Amritsari are rated suitable for cultivation in the
irrigated arid regions of the Indian Punjab. |