Identification and evaluation of old apple varieties in

Cinca Lidia1*

*Department of Agriculture and Rural Development - Gorj Phytosanitary Unit

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Abstract The Gorj County is well known for its environment Key words conditions for fruit trees growing. On the small or large areas a lot of different old species, pears, apples, plums, cerise, and quince are preserved. Our work apple, disease, powdery was focused on distribution, maintaining and characterization of old apple mildew, efficiency, varieties. The precocity and productivity as well as critical diseases were biological evaluated. As we observed in some villages there were fervently one or two varieties grown. Such distribution is title connected with environment conditions and traditional culture.

In a world in perpetuate development and Agricultural biodiversity is studied from the movement, sometimes too little controlled, the rescue historical perspective of how species of plants and and conservation of genetic resources, the defence of animals have evolved under the action of agricultural life becomes - every day - more urgent. (4). Hence the "civilization". After the man became aware of the need for conservation the plant genetic resources in benefits gained by eliminating "bad" and "weak" plants almost all countries, regardless of their degree of and the cultivation of "good" and "healthy" plants, the development - only the technical possibilities of process of "selective breeding" took place in several approach are different. In a very short time has passed stages: first stage took into consideration plants of from traditional means (collections of botanical high culture: wheat, barley, millet, rice, maize, gardens, natural reservation) to the modern sorghum; the second phase was for vegetable plants, conservation in gene banks, seeds, or pollen. grape vine, fruit trees; the third stage was for medicinal Scientists, and those with political and plants and floricultural species; last stage is the current legislative concerns have become aware of the need for period, which involved the cultivation of new species collection, evaluation and conservation of genetic pool or species considered unimportant. of local populations, as well as wild species related to cultivated ones, are all potential sources of genes for The old varieties and “land races” studied improvement works (8). /investigated To preserve plant biodiversity two complementary strategies for conservation have to be Our work was focused on biotic stress combined: in situ and ex situ. tolerance to evaluation old apple varieties and “land The concept of biodiversity was introduced by races” from this point of view. Walter G. Rosen in 1985, required by United Nations Apples old varieties such as Pietros, Patul, Conference on Environment and Development in Rio Sweet and Ciupercesti Apples as well as bitter apple de Janeiro 1992 (5). (Marul Paduret), are present in Gorj County, which is Biodiversity is a concept whose content is located in SW , on the middle flow of the often confused with the biological resources. River. Biological resource is a particular gene, species or Gorj County, has a varied relief, in three ecosystem, while biodiversity refers to the variability distinct steps: the North and North-West are Parâng, of biological resources, from gene to ecosystem (7). Vulcan and Godeanu Mountains with altitudes often Biodiversity is the "variety of life", while the biological exceeding 2000 m (maximum altitude: 2519, top of the resources constitutes the manifestation or the Mountain Parângu Mare) and with traces of Quaternary incorporation of this variety. glaciations (glacial lakes, marls). In the central zone we Biodiversity is the foundation of agriculture it have Sub-Carpathian area, constituted of several hills stays at the origin of crops and domestic animals. alignments (Săcelu, Stroieşti) and depressions Agriculture promotes the sustainable biodiversity (, Novaci, Târgu-Jiu, Câmpu-Mare), and in conservation, but on the other hand can lead to loss of South is a portion of Getic Piemontul. the biodiversity (7).

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The climate is temperate-continental, with - Ciuperceşti - synonym Ciupercineşti – - average annual temperatures of 10.2oC in depressions, local variety formed in Târgug-Jiu depression, spread in the area of high hills and 0oC on high mountain. in other villages (Ciuperceni, Câlnic, Teleşti) of Gorj Average of annual rainfall are in equable distributed: county. The tree achieves large dimensions, is 585 mm in South, in river Jiu meadow, 753 mm in longevity, very productive, a little pretentious to depressions, 925 mm in the Sub-Carpathian hills and climate conditions and soil. Fruits are medium size over 1200 mm on mountain crests; prevailing winds maturity consumption starts in September and extends from North, South and West. until the end of October. As a rustic and fruitful variety Until now 33 apple species are known and in is located in the mountain area of Jiu basin. our area grow spontaneously six species. - Pătul – name comes from the storage over - Wild apple (Malus silvestris (L.) Mill.) – is the winter of these apples by villagers, in barns full of all over Europe, especially in central area; it grows hay. The tree grows hardy, apple grafted on wild apple wild in forests, on sun-beaten hills and on glades dwarf rootstock. Is less susceptible to diseases and sheltered from winds. Like other species of apples, the pests, resistant to cold and don’t suffer because of the wild apple has not kept its allogamous shape (with late spring hoars. We can find it in the hills and high cross-fertilisation). It has many forms which are hills areas. distinguished through general habits and shape of the crown, after the beginning and end of vegetation, fruit Results obtained maturity age, qualities of pulp and by number of the seeds. Most forms of wild apples are resistant to Since I have been working on the plant freezing, a property that transmits to the varieties of quarantine section of the Phytosanitary Unit Gorj, for culture. Along with the Oriental and Sieverisi apple several years, we had companies that were exporting took part in the formation of a large number of apples to Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Importing varieties of apples cultivated in temperate climate zone. firms put a "phytosanitary clause ", as these fruits to be - Sweet apples – autochthonous species local and not to be chemically treated. In localities like formed in the Sub-Carpathian meridional area. Tree , Runcu, Stăneşti, Turcineşti, Polovragi, Roşia grows strong, longevity, easy to adapt to climate and de , Dănciuleşti, Ciuperceni, Cîlnic, Teleşti soil conditions. Fruits are medium size or extra we have identified people who have these types of medium and can be consumed in the second half of varieties. After discussing with them we have August. It is cultivated in areas with high hills. concluded that they want to breed these varieties since - Creţeşti – name comes from the skin of fruit they don’t require phytosanitary treatment. that is very crispy, when they are harvested early and We have explained to every private person, stored in inadequate heat and atmospheric moisture interested in breeding these trees that they can be rooms. Under this name are known more varieties, and obtained from seeds or by vegetative, and how to closely related between them, obtained by long extract seeds from fruit, making the seeds, the selection. The varieties are distinguished by age of stratification. maturity, after the colour of the fruit, after locality. Biodiversity concerns are on two different Trees are very hardy, reaching high ages; are grafted directions which reflect chronological sequence: only on wild apple; fruit production depends on tree - disappearance of species, representing most age; fruits are very resistant to transport and can be of them, where there is a scientific valuable kept a long time without any loss. It is not pretentious fundamental, but still improvable. Here, the scale of to the climate and soil, resistant to frost, being met at valuation of effects is in relation to the availability of an altitude of 800-1000 meters, but is sensitive to genetic material and the potential impact on production diseases and pests and consumption of human activities; - Pietros – is a local variety formed in the - maintaining the functioning and the Sub-Carpathian area, in . It is widespread in elasticity of the most recent ecosystems. several centres: Târgug-Jiu, Baia de Aramă, villages: Stăneşti, Runcu, Schela, Plopşoru, which grows in Conclusions proportion of 25% compared to other varieties of apples. The tree is hardy, lives over 100 years. It is Although in terms of production, the trees on successful grafted on wild apple. In general, occurs their own roots are weak, but are more longevity, more regularly and very abundant, the production of fruits on resistant to frost, drought, hardy and more resistant to tree is on average 280-300 kg. The fruits are resistant diseases and pests. to transport, are kept without loss by the end of May. It From derivations made it had been stated that is a rustic variety, a little pretentious to soil, resistant to local varieties are very well stored over winter and are frost and diseases. Is a variety of tree for local gardens resistant to transport, a much appreciated thing by the in the area near the high hills where other varieties individuals marketing these fruits. failed. Varieties which behave very well in the county conditions, resistant to diseases and pests are: 341

- Pătul variety, because is a winter variety Taking into consideration the fact that local resistant to cold, does not suffer from late spring hoar, varieties do not require phytosanitary treatment, fruits but has the disadvantage that do not resist to drought are in demand abroad for various processes of and apple’s scab during rainy years, it can be found in industrialization. Therefore, small manufacturers prefer localities like: Dănciuleşti, Târgu-Jiu, Polovragi, Roşia to breed them in various ways as graphing and de Amaradia. vegetative reproduction. - Pietros variety is spread in localities like Variety Ciupercesti – Ciuperceni, Cilnic, Runcu, Schela, Stăneşti, is rustic, resistant to frost and Teleşti, Turcineşti, Târgug-Jiu, Bumbeşti-Jiu, is diseases. productive and longevity. Biodiversity in agriculture concerns two aspects: biodiversity of wild species and also of grown References plant species (Davidescu 2002). Given that at present the land is cultivated by 1. Arsenie G.- Elemente de Ecologie generală, small farmers and privates, the thing that helps them is Timişoara, Ed. Orizonturi Universitare, 2002. the diversity. 2. Bavau A. , Godeanu P., Bogdan A., Butnaru has for Romanian farmers G. - Biodiversitatea şi ocrotirea naturii, Ed. agricultural policies that stimulate biodiversity. Thus, Academiei Române, 2007. for them, there are European irredeemable funds 3. Bărbault R. - Ecologie generală, 1997. coming on Axis 2 - Agro-environment, contained in 4. Berca M. - Este imperativă protecţia the national programme of rural development. It is very patrimoniului genetic şi biologic şi a important to select varieties adapted to local county realizărilor tradiţionale româneşti, conditions, varieties adapted to cold or dry areas. Local Economistul, 1325, 2003. varieties do not require herbicides and pesticides, 5. Bleahu M. - Priveşte înapoi cu mânie... provide production increases at moderate doses of Priveşte înainte cu spaimă, Bucureşti, Ed. fertilizers and crop production of high quality. Economică, 2002. When we speak about biodiversity we should 6. Edward O. Wilson - Diversitatea vieţii, 1992. think in the second place to crops conservation. Many www.evenimentuldebotoşani.ro/view Articol.php? of the traditional culture techniques should be used www.eea.europa.europa./eu/ro/themes/biodiversity/abo again. Small farmers, who cultivate a variety of ut-biodiversity. regional indigenous plants, using techniques to www.gazetadeagricultură.info/index.php?view. promote genetic diversity, are useful in ensuring the conservation of cultural and biological diversity.

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