American apricot plum: the latest fruit variety in the world

On December 11, 2003, Hunan Science and Technology News, the largest and most authoritative science and technology newspaper in China, carried out a special edition report on American apricot plum, and interviewed Li Fangdong, an expert (Dr. Economic Lin, researcher) of the "Xingli Research Group" of the Chinese Academy of Forestry Sciences. )

Reporter: how did the American apricot plum come into being?

Dr. Li Fangdong: in August 1994, the State Council approved the establishment of the national "948" project, which aims to improve the grade and quality of China's agricultural products and shorten the gap between China's agriculture and developed countries by introducing excellent new varieties and technologies of farm industry from developed countries and popularizing them in China after digestion and absorption. "introduction of new interspecific hybrid varieties of apricot and plum" is a "948" project issued by the state in 2000, which is implemented under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Forestry Sciences.

American apricot plum is a brand-new fruit variety cultivated by foreign fruit tree breeding experts through the complex hybridization process of plum and apricot for decades. It is the latest fruit variety in the world. North America has just developed, and only a few varieties have been introduced in Europe, South America, South Africa and Australia. At present, China has introduced the most new varieties of apricot and plum.

Reporter: now farmers are generally concerned about the economic benefits of planting apricot plums. What are the benefits and prospects of planting American apricot plums?

Dr. Li Fangdong: American apricot plum is favored by consumers because of its unique flavor, bright color and high nutritional value. In the American market, the price per kilogram of fresh apricot plum fruit is 10 to 12 US dollars, which is 4 to 6 times the market price of ordinary plum and apricot varieties, and 8 to 10 percent of the market price of apple and citrus. At present, the CIF price of a small amount of domestic imported apricot plums is US $13.5 per kilogram, and the market retail price is 130-140 yuan per kilogram: the economic benefit is very considerable. From the point of view of market capacity, economic benefit and adaptive region, the prospect of developing American apricot plum is very broad.

Reporter: many farmers are very enthusiastic after reading the special report on apricot plum, but they do not know which varieties of apricot plum they choose to plant. What problems should be paid attention to when selecting new varieties of apricot plums?

Dr. Li Fangdong: the comprehensive characters of American apricot plums are very outstanding. However, because of its different growth and development characteristics, the suitable planting range of each variety is also different. Therefore, when determining the planting varieties, farmers should choose according to the characteristics of the varieties, the climate and soil conditions of the planting area and the purpose of management. For example, Wei Di, Dinosaur Egg, Flavor thick, Red Velvet, Flavor Rose and other varieties are very stable and can be planted in all parts of our country. However, during the fruit expansion period, the three varieties, such as Flavor, Flavor Queen and Wei Wang, are prone to fruit cracking or cracking. These varieties are suitable for planting in arid and semi-arid areas, and should be protected from rain during fruit expansion in the south (such as bagging).

Reporter: I heard that plums, apricots and American apricot plums need to be equipped with pollination trees, is that so? How to configure the pollination tree? What is the planting density?

Dr. Li Fangdong: many varieties of Li he apricot and their American apricot plums need suitable pollination varieties in order to achieve the goal of high and stable yield. The following principles should be grasped when selecting pollination varieties: (1) pollination compatibility between pollination varieties and main varieties should be good; (2) the florescence of pollination varieties and main varieties should be consistent or close; (3) pollination varieties should have high commodity value. For example, dinosaur eggs and Wei Di can be used as pollination trees, and dinosaur protein can be selected as pollination varieties. Apricot plum is generally planted with row spacing of 2 × 4 meters, 83 plants per mu, or 2 × 3 meters per mu, and 110 plants per mu.