ANALYSIS OF VARIABILITY OF THE FRUITS OF DAMSON PLUM (PRUNUS × FRUTICANS) GROWING ON THE TERRITORY OF TRNAVA UPLAND

Abstract

Prunus × fruticans Weihe is a taxon of hybridogenous origin. It is a hybrid of Prunus insititia and Prunus spinosa. Typically, it occurs in plant communities of non-forest woody vegetation, which form ecological corridors in marginal zones of agrocoenoses. This research was focused on variability determination in selected morphological characteristics of P. × fruticans Weihe at localities: Veľké Úľany, Horné Orešany and Križovany nad Dudváhom. The subject of our research were naturally growing P. × fruticans individuals, which were randomly selected from ecological corridor vegetation. Material (fruits) was collected during the vegetation period from the September - November 2010, 2011. Weight, width and length of fruits (n=30) as well as weight, length, width and thickness of kernels (n=30) were measured. Parameters of fruits and kernels were statistically analysed. The coefficients of variation were used for evaluation of variability of P. × fruticans in analysed parameters. Fruits from each locality were the most variable in the weight (1.63-2.11 g). Kernels from Veľké Úľany locality were characterized by the normal variability in weight (0.28 g). Other analysed parameters of fruits and kernels (width, length of fruits and length, width and thickness of kernels) were characterized by the low variability (cv <10%). Width of fruits varied from 11.97 mm to 15.46 mm, length of fruits 12.24mm-15,74 mm, length of kernels 8.22 mm-11.46 mm, width of kernels 7.60 mm-8.70 mm and thickness of kernels 5.53 mm-6.62 mm.