PROTECTION OF THE APRICOT CROP AGAINST DISEASES IN THE OSTROV FRUIT GROWING AREA

Abstract

Due to its physiological, ecological and technological peculiarities of the species, apricot culture involves a whole series of challenges and requires special attention and fruit growers’ skillness. Being an early flowering plant, sensitive to various diseases and pests, root asphyxiation, spring frosts and other unfavorable factors, yields are often reduced and are a factor that is limiting the areas and farmers' interest in the expansion and development of this crop. Also, the complex of diseases and pests to which this culture is exposed may cause the manifestation of the enigmatic disease called apoplexy or premature demise of the apricot. The paper highlights the importance and special role of effective disease control in an apricot orchard in the southern area of Dobrogea in order to obtain a quantitatively and qualitatively increased yield. A total of 11 phytosanitary treatments were applied to control brown rot, gumspot of stone fruit, scab and powdery mildew. The assessments at 7-10 days after each treatment for Comandor and Farbaly varieties proved a good efficacy ranging from 86.67 to 100%. So that the production of apricots intended for sale was approx 12 tons per hectare.