Investigation of the effect of Crop Aid NPA applicationon preventing late spring frost damage in Mogador apricot varieties

Spring late frosts are one of the most important problems encountered in apricot cultivation. The study was carried out in 'Mogador' apricot cultivar grafted on Myrobolan 29-C rootstock planted in 5x2 m spacings in 2011 in Hatay province in the 2021-2022 period. In the research, the effect of Cropaıd NPA application, which is a natural plant antifreeze, on increasing frost resistance was investigated. The application was sprayed with 500g/100lt water, and only water was sprayed on the control group. Applications were made in 2 periods as pink bud and small fruit period. The total cold accumulation of the trial area was calculated in Chil Units (CU) (963 units) and according to the standard method (2285 hours). The temperature requirement of the variety was calculated as 9723 hours. The application did not have a significant effect on the phenolological stages. As a result of the measurements made in the artificial frost test, the samples taken during the Bud-Flower period showed a change between 17.56 – 47.3 µs/cm in the control trees, while it changed between 14.57 – 44.13 µs/cm in the application group. In the samples taken during the small fruit period, it varied between 71.85 – 106.49 µs/cm in the control group, while it varied between 39 – 78.95 µs/cm in the treated trees. It has been determined that Cropaıd NPAApplication is beneficial in terms of providing frost resistance at varying rates depending on time and temperature. In addition, as a result of the frost test, it was determined that the small fruit period was more sensitive than the bud and flower period.