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Consumer concern about poor taste of fresh apricots is increasing and knowledge about the more suitable production requirement is essential. Genetic component influencing apricots quality is well known. However, there is limited information on environmental effect on fruit quality. This study aims to evaluate influence of altitude on phenological and fruit quality characters of apricot genotypes. Fruits from 162 genotype were collected from nine locations from 3006-3346 m asl in trans-Himalaya. The altitude had a marked influence on date of flowering, fruit weight, moisture and TSS content. For every 100 m increase in altitude, flowering and fruit ripening delayed by 3.3 and 7.1 day, respectively. Inverse relationship between altitude and fruit weight (R2=0.310) was observed. For every 100 m increase in altitude the fruit weight decrease by 0.5 g. Fruit moisture content decreased significantly with increase in elevation (R2=0.585). Decrease in moisture content was 1.9% for every 100 m increase in elevation. Altitude showed linear relationship with fruit TSS content (R2=0.726). For every 100 m increase in altitude, the fruit TSS increased by 1.2ºBrix. Knowledge from the present study on the impact of altitude on fruit quality characters provides a useful guide for selecting orchard location towards improving fruit quality

Cold arid and high altitude region of the trans-Himalayas (Ladakh & Lahaul-Spiti) is a unique region of the world where all non-native living beings experience noticeably hostile environments that make their survival much challenging compared to their respective natural dwelling niches. The region is characterized by extreme temperature variation, low precipitation mostly in the form of snow, thin atmosphere with high UV-radiation, less oxygen availability, high wind velocity, sparse plant density and fragile ecosystem. Interestingly, these adverse environmental conditions are ideal for the growth of valuable medicinal plants. Like other parts of the Himalaya, Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti are also the treasure house of several unique medicinal plants which form an indispensable ingredient of local traditional system of medicines especially Sowa Rigpa System (Amchi system of medicine) since ages.