**3.3 Climate**

Prunus

Yellow-orange firm flesh. 13–14% TSS, 0.6–0.7% acidity.

Low spreading vigorous tree.

Yellow flesh, moderately juicy.

Yellow flesh, moderately juicy. Excellent for jam making.

Upright, tall, vigorous tree.

'Howe' is a good pollinizer. Large fruit, red coloured. Sweet and juicy pulp.

Scientific name: *Prunus armeniaca.*

15% TSS, 1.2% acidity.

*2.29.6 Kala Amritsari*

Self-fruitful.

*2.29.7 Titron*

Self-fruitful.

*2.29.8 Alu Bhokra*

**3. Apricot**

**3.2 Botany**

and flattened [3].

Self-unfruitful.

Family: Rosaceae.

**3.1 Origin and history**

Spreading tree.

Self-unfruitful; requires Kala Amritsari as pollinizer.

Medium-sized, round fruits; dark brown coloured.

Improved yield, if Alucha Early Round is used as pollinizer.

Small- and medium-sized fruit; deep purple colour, thin skin.

The apricot ranks second next to plum among the stone fruits in India in area, production and popularity. It is a drought-resistant, salt-tolerant, hardy plant being rather less susceptible to pests and diseases. The word 'Armeniaca' indicates its introduction to Italy and Greece by Armenian traders. The major producing countries are China, Russia, Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, the USA, Morocco, Syria and Romania. In India it is grown in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,

It is a small tree growing up to 6–9 m in height. The bark is reddish with glabrous twigs. The leaves are ovate, glabrous above and pubescent beneath. Pinkish to white flowers are produced before the leaves. Fruit is velvety when young and peach-like in colour and shape, and flesh is yellowish orange. Stone is smooth

Uttaranchal and limited extent to Amritsar and Patila in Punjab.

Yield will improve if pollinated with Titron.

**96**

Apricot can be successfully grown at an altitude between 900 and 2000 m amsl. The white-fleshed sweet kernelled apricots require cooler climate and are grown in dry temperate regions up to 3000 m amsl. The long cool winter (300–900 chilling hours), frost free and warm spring are favourable for fruiting. Average summer temperature between 16.6 and 32.2°C is suitable for growth and quality fruit production. In general, the sites located on the northeastern aspect at lower elevation and southwestern at higher elevation are suitable for its cultivation. Spring frost causes extensive damage to the blossoms, which are killed when temperature falls below 4°C. An annual rainfall of about 100 mm, well distributed throughout the season, is good for normal growth and fruiting spur favours fruiting. An annual rainfall of 100 cm is sufficient for obtaining a good apricot crop.
