Evaluation of dessert plum cultivars in Belgrade area [Serbia] | Ispitivanje stonih sorti šljive na području Beograda [Srbija]

The assortment of plum cultivars in Serbia is dominated by those intended for processing, while dessert cultivars are relatively under-represented. The proportion of Japanese plum cultivars is especially low. The aim of this study was the evaluation of cultivars of European and Japanese plum in order to choose the best dessert cultivars suitable for growing in the region of Belgrade. Eleven cultivars of European plum (Prunus domestica L.) and five cultivars of Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) were evaluated. Tests were carried out in a collection plum orchard at the Experimental Station 'Radmilovac' of the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade during a three-year period (2008-2010). The orchard was planted in 2004, rootstock is Myrobalan seedling, the training system is free, and tree spacing is 4.5 x 4.5 m. The following traits were studied: time of flowering and maturing, productivity and some important fruit characteristics (physical, chemical, and sensory). On average, Japanese plums were flowering eight days earlier than the European plums, and also had a longer duration and greater abundance of flowering. Of European plums the earliest maturing cultivar was 'Čačanska Lepotica' (June 29), and latest one was 'Anna Späth' (August 24). Of Japanese plums the earliest maturing cultivar was 'Sorisso di Primavera' (June 25), and latest one was 'Angeleno' (August 25). Japanese plum cultivars exhibited high productivity, with the exception of 'Blackamber', which had moderately high productivity. In the group of European plum cultivars the highest productivity had 'Čačanska Lepotica', followed by 'Bluefre' and 'Opal'. Japanese plums had larger fruit and smaller pit in relation to European plums. Highest fruit weight (over 60 g) are found in cultivars of Japanese plum 'T.C. Sun', 'Blackamber', and 'Strival', and also in European plum cultivar 'Čačanska Rana'. Fruits of European plums had higher content of soluble solids and sugars and lower content of organic acids than the fruits of Japanese plums. Generally, Japanese plum cultivars were characterized by more attractive fruit appearance and European plum cultivars were characterized by better fruit quality. Overall, in the group of European plums the best characteristics were manifested by early cultivar 'Čačanska Rana', medium early cultivar 'Čačanska Lepotica', and late cultivar 'President', while in the group of Japanese plums best characteristics were manifested by late cultivars 'T.C. Sun' and 'Angeleno'.