A new apricot variety “Prizer”, bred by scientists of the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing, is included in the State Register and recommended for cultivation in the Ural region (9).
The bred stone fruit culture is characterized by high winter hardiness – it can withstand up to -40 ° C and yield – up to 30 kg of fruits can be harvested from one tree. Breeders also note the annual fruiting of the variety and beautiful large fruits weighing up to 25 grams. The fruit is recommended to be consumed fresh, but it is also perfect for processing: compotes, jams, preserves.
Apricot variety “Prizer” received a gold medal at the Russian agro-industrial exhibition “Golden Autumn-2022” and at the industry exhibition in Chelyabinsk.
“The Ural climate has a number of unfavorable moments for horticulture: a relatively short growing season, the return of late spring cold weather, a small amount of precipitation, dry winds, severe and little snowy winters. However, the harsh climate is not an obstacle to growing apricots in our soil-climatic zone. The new variety “Prizer” has high winter hardiness – flower buds are resistant to winter temperature fluctuations and spring frosts, stable and high yields – 13.5 tons per hectare. In addition, the new variety is unpretentious in cultivation,” said Firudin Mammadaga oglu Gasimov, a leading researcher at the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing, Ph.D., author of the “Prizer” apricot variety.
The work on breeding the “Prizer” variety lasted almost 30 years. Work on it began back in 1992, in 2001 Chelyabinsk breeders selected a seedling among the promising ones, and in 2008 they transferred it to the State Variety Test.
The new apricot variety “Prizer” is characterized by an average flowering period in mid-May and an average ripening period from late July to early August. Medium-sized tree with a spreading crown of medium density and foliage. The variety is resistant to diseases and pests. However, like other varieties of apricots, it is afraid of root collar warming, so it must be planted in elevated places.
The new variety of apricot “Prizer” can be purchased at the YuUNIISK store in Chelyabinsk, as well as at the largest nurseries in Russia.