STUDY OF BLOSSOM FREEZING IN PEACHES BY MATHEMATICAL AND STATISTICAL METHODS.

Fourteen varieties of peaches were included in the present study. The degree of blossom freezing (%) in two consecutive years 2019-2020 was studied. For this purpose, hierarchical cluster analysis and single-factor analysis of variance and Duncan's test were applied to assess the differences. It was found that the studied varieties can be grouped in four clusters according to similarity in the degree of frost in 2019 and in 2020. It was proved that in 2019 with the highest percentage of frost was 'El. 19-78' (98.33 %), followed by 'Ferlino', but with minor damage (50.67%). The varieties 'Evmolpia', 'Filina', 'Flavia', 'Redhaven' and 'El. 19-77' had no frozen blossoms. According to the degree of frost in 2020, the varieties formed three clusters, with 'Evmolpia' in a separate cluster, as a variety with minimal effects of low temperatures (59%). In 2020, the percentage of freezing of blossoms increased in most varieties: 'Ferlino' (92%), 'Puldin' (99%), 'Filina' (96%), 'Flavia' (92%), 'Maycrest' (98.67%), 'Redhaven' (99.67%), 'El. 7-59' (92%), 'El. 4- 22' (94.67%), 'El. 91-23' (96.23%), and 'El. 19-78' (93%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]