Comprehensive study of apple varieties (Malus domestica Borkh.) in the conditions of the Orenburg region

O. E. Merezhko

Orenburg Experimental Station of Horticulture and Viticulture – Branch of Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery, Orenburg, Russia

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Volume 26 No. 7

Date of paper submission: 27.02.2026, date of review: 05.05.2026, date of acceptance: 01.06.2026.

Published: 07/31/2026

Abstract. The purpose of the article is to study the comprehensive assessment of apple varieties of autumn and winter ripening in the conditions of the Orenburg region. Materials and methods. The studies were conducted from 2021 to 2025. On the basis of the Orenburg branch of the Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, the objects were 15 varieties of apple trees: autumn ripening – Khrustal’nyy Bashmachok (originator is the Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture), Solnyshko (originator is the Federal Scientific Center of Fruit Growing), Spartak (st), Zhigulevskoe, Kuybyshevskoe (originator id the Samara Region Research Institute of Horticulture and Medicinal Plants “Zhigulevskie Sady”) and winter – Arkaim, Orenburgskoe Pozdnee, Orskoe, Trudovoe, Zimnee, Spartan (originator is the Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture), Kulikovskoe, Kurnakovskoe (originator is the Federal Scientific Center of Fruit Growing), Podarok Orenburzh’yu (originator is the Samara Region Research Institute of Horticulture and Medicinal Plants “Zhigulevskie Sady”), BratChud (st) (originator is the Ural Federal Scientific Center Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences). Observations and records were made according to the “Program and Methodology for Varietal Studies of Fruit, Berry, and Nut Crops”, and the experimental data were statistically processed using two-factor analysis of variance, where A is the variety and B is the year. Scientific novelty. A comprehensive assessment of autumn and winter-ripening apple varieties was conducted for the first time in the Orenburg region. Results. Genotypes combining high winter hardiness and productivity were isolated. The following varieties were considered highly winter-hardy: autumn varieties Khrustal’nyy Bashmachok, winter varieties – Arkaim, Orenburgskoe Pozdnee, Orskoe, Trudovoe, Zimnee, BratChud (st); the highest average fruit weight had the following varieties: autumn ripening – Khrustal’nyy Bashmachok (155.0 g); winter – Kulikovskoe (157.0 g). It was revealed that the following varieties are characterized by high productivity: autumn ripening – Khrustal’nyy Bashmachok (50.1 c/ha), winter – Arkaim (55.1 c/ha), Zimnee and Orskoe (53.9 c/ha), Trudovoe (52.6 c/ha).

Keywords: apple tree, varieties, assortment, collection variety study, winter hardiness, fruit weight, yield, region

Acknowledgements. The research was carried out within the state order of FSBSO ARHCBAN for the topic “Preservation, enhancement, and study of crop potential through the identification and rational use of genetic diversity in collections” (FGUW-2026-0001).

For citation: Merezhko О. Е. Comprehensive study of apple varieties (Malus domestica Borkh.) in the conditions of the Orenburg region. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2026; 26 (07): 1219‒1230. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2026-26-07-1219-1230 (In Russ.) 

 

 

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