A Study of Chill and Heat Requirements of Resilient Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) Varieties in Response to Climate Change

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research paper

Authors

1 Departement de Biochimie et Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1 (Laboratoire de Génétique Biochimie et Biotechnologies

2 Departement de Biologie appliquée, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1 (Laboratoire de Génétique Biochimie et Biotechnologies Végétales),

3 École Nationale Supérieure de Biotechnologie, Pôle Universitaire (Laboratoire de Génétique Biochimie et Biotechnologies Végétales) Constantine, Algeria

10.22059/ijhst.2024.374067.801

Abstract

The predicted climatic scenarios for Mediterranean regions pose specific challenges to agricultural production. In Algeria, apricot production faces consistent decline, with both quality and quantity of fruit significantly affected by genotype x environment interactions. The present research aimed to investigate the chill and heat requirements related to apricot flowering in order to select superior cultivars with desired traits (low chill and high heat requirements) for a breeding program. Eighteen cultivars were chosen to assess their chill and heat requirements for two consecutive years (2021 – 2022). Universal mathematical models such as the dynamic model, Utah model, and chill hours below 7°C were used to quantify the chill requirements. On the other hand, the growing degree hour model was used to measure the heat requirements essential for apricot flowering. Significant differences for chill and heat requirements were noticed among the apricot cultivars where cultivars chill requirements were classified into three groups (low, high, and medium) ranging from 26 CP to 72 CP however, the heat requirements for flowering ranged from 1574 to 5597 GDH respectively. This diversity in ranges allowed us to pinpoint five cultivars with low chill requirements (Khad Romia, Bedai, Boufarik, Bish and Monte) as potential targets for future apricot breeding program.

Keywords

International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 January 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 16 March 2024
  • Revise Date: 03 June 2024
  • Accept Date: 19 June 2024

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