Some stone fruits culture in container for earliness

The aim of this research is to induce earliness in fruit production in some stone fruit species and cultivars such as apricots (Aurora, Ninfa, Roxana), peaches (Early Maycrest, Francois, Maycrest), nectarins (Big Top, Caldesi 2000, Silver of Rome), plums (Black Beauty, Black Star, Papaz) and sweet cherries (0900 Ziraat, Early Burlat, Regina) grown in containers in the plastic greenhouse under the Antalya ecological conditions. The research was conducted in the Research and Experimental Station of Akdeniz University and in a plastic greenhouse of Seed Research and Development Center of the University in between 2010 and 2013. Mini meteorological stations were set both in the greenhouse and outside to record daily temperatures and relative humidity. The plants in 30 lt black plastic containers filled with peat: manure (1.5:1) mixture. The plants were kept outside and all the cultivation activities were precisely done during the experiment. Beginning from the second year, the plants were treated with Dormex %2.5 and 200 ppm GA3 and also the third group was stored at 5 Co for 30 days in the storage house in order to meet and terminate the chilling requirements and dormancy. Then the plants were transferred into the greenhouse, and were kept in the greenhouse until harvestings were completed. Soon after, the plants were transferred to the outside to prevent sunburn and eliminate the possible fungal enfections. The same procedure was done in the third year as well. During the vegetation periods, some phenological (budburst, beginning of flowering, full bloom, and end of the flowering, fruit set, harvesting time, leaf shade) and pomological parameters (fruit diameter, fruit length and weight, seed weight, fruit skin color, soluble solid content and acidity) were determined in last two consecutive years. Among the apricot cultivars, Ninfa treated with Dormex %2.5 was the earliest one in budburst, flowering parameters and harvesting time. On the other hand, chilled Ninfa was the best in terms of fruit set rate and yield per plant. The earliest leaf shades were recorded in Roxana treated with Dormex %2.5. The chilled Roxana trees gave the biggest fruits in weight and fruits size. The biggest seed was obtained from controls of Roxana trees. The better results were recorded in respect to fruit flesh/seed weight ratio and soluble solid content in Roxana cultivars treated with 200 ppm GA3. L, C and H values related to fruit skin color were higher in chilled Ninfa fruits. The fruit flesh firmness in control Ninfa trees were higher whereas fruit acidity was higher in chilled Aurora cultivars. Among the peach cultivars, Francois treated with Dormex %2.5 was the earliest in budburst and beginning of flowering period. Treated plants with Dormex %.2.5 cultivars were given the highest fruit settings and chilled Francois cultivars gave the highest yield. The good results were obtained in respect to fruit weight and fruit flesh/seed weight ratio were obtained Francois trees in chilled and treated Dormex %.2.5. The chilled Maycrest cultivars gave the biggest seeds in weight, fruit flesh firmness and acidity. L, C and H values in respect to fruit skin color were higher in Maycrest cultivars treated with 200 ppm GA3 and also in control plants. Soluble solid contents were higher in Early Maycrest cultivars treated with Dormex %2.5. There wasn't any problem related in fruit setting related to chilling requirements in all peach cultivars. Among the nectarine cultivars, the earliest budburst, beginning of flowering, harvesting time, fruit weight, fruit width, seed weight, L value and soluble solid content were recorded in Silver of Rome cultivar treated with Dormex %2.5. On the other hand, the good results were obtained in fruit set and yield per plant from Caldesi 2000 cultivars treated with Dormex %2.5. Chilled Silver of Rome cultivar gave the highest fruit length and fruit flesh/seed weight ratio in Caldesi 2000 cultivars treated with Dormex %2.5 cultivars. C and H values were higher in Big Top cultivars. The good fruit firmness was in Big Top cultivars treated with 200 ppm GA3. The higher acidity was obtained in Caldesi 2000 cultivars treated with Dormex %2.5 and chilled trees. There wasn't any visible problem in nectarine cultivars. However, uneven yield per tree in Silver of Rome cultivars treated with GA3 was seemed a problem. Among the plum cultivars, the earliest budburst was in Black Beauty and Papaz cultivars in treated with Dormex %2.5 trees. The highest fruit setting and yield per plants were determined in Black Beauty in treated with 200 ppm GA3 trees. The good results in term of the fruit weight, fruit width, fruit length, fruit flesh/seed weight ratio and acidity were measured in Black Star cultivars in control plants. The seed weight was higher in Black Beauty cultivar in control plants. Chilled Papaz cultivars gave the highest L, C and H values and firmness. The highest soluble content was measured in Black Star cultivars in treated with Dormex %2.5 trees. There wasn't any fruit set on Papaz trees even though they were fully loaded with flowers. Black Beauty and Black Star trees regularly provided during the experiment. Among the sweet cherry cultivars, chilled Regina was the best in respect to fruit set and yield per plant. 0900 Ziraat treated with Dormex %2.5 gave the highest fruit weight, width, and length, seed weight, fruit flesh/ seed weight ratio and L value. The longest fruit stalk length; higher firmness and soluble solid content were recorded in Regina trees. Acidity was higher in chilled 0900 Ziraat cultivars. The research results showed that sweet cherries are not suitable in protected cultivations in Antalya ecological conditions. Selection of suitable cultivars such as Ninfa for Antalya ecological conditions in apricots and plums seemed quite important. Aurora and Roxana trees in apricots and Papaz trees in plums were found poor in fruit sets. The poorness could be related to inadequate chill requirements. About 7 to 10 days earliness in fruit harvesting can be obtained in selected apricot, nectarine, peach and plum cultivars under the same conditions when all the required treatments and cultivation practices properly done. Nevertheless, Mut County of Mersin Province provides earliness in given species and cultivars even in outside conditions compared to protected cultivation in Antalya in every year.