EVALUATION OF GROWTH AND PRODUCTION PARAMETERS OF SELECTED PLUM VARIETIES IN 2019–2023 [HODNOCENÍ RŮSTOVÝCH A PRODUKČNÍCH PARAMETRŮ VYBRANÝCH ODRŮD SLIVONÍ V LETECH 2019–2023]

Plums are one of the most widely grown fruits in the Czech Republic. The demand for plums is increasing not only for the purpose of processing them into marmalades, preserves or for distilling, but also for the fruit itself as a dessert fruit. Therefore, it is crucial that breeding stations are producing genotypes suitable for consumption and processing. Evaluation of the growth parameters, fruit quality and fruit production of most of the varieties available on the market in the local climatic conditions of the region is important. If varieties are not properly selected, large economic losses are caused. The varieties selected for this study were ‘Bluefree’, ‘Cacanska lepotica’, ‘Haganta’, ‘Jojo’, ‘Jubileum’, ‘Presenta’, ‘President’, ‘Simona’, ‘Tophit’, ‘Kulinaria’. Trees were evaluated in the natural conditions of the orchard for 5 years. The monitored parameters were flower onset, fruit onset, flowering and harvesting time, fruit size, overall fruit quality and sugar content. The varieties ‘Bluefree’, ‘Haganta’, ‘Kulinaria’ and ‘President’ had the largest fruit size and high sugar contents and therefore were the most suitable for direct consumption. The varieties with the highest sugar content were ‘Haganta’, ‘President’ and ‘Presenta’, making them the most suitable for the processing market.