Varietal Characteristics of Exotic Plum Cultivars under Changing Climate Scenario of North Western Himalayas

Exotic plum cultivars that have been introduced from different countries and planted at Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture were studied for their various varietal characteristics.The study consisted of fourteen different plum cultivars of uniform age replicated thrice in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD).All the cultivars under study had round fruit shape except Grand Duke and Au-Rosa which were oblong and heart shaped.Highest fruit weight (65.78 g) was recorded in cultivar Frontier while lowest fruit weight (26.44 g) was recorded in cultivar Krassivica Plum.Most of the cultivars were cling stone type except Frontier, Au-Rosa and Grand Duke which were free stone type.Maximum values for total sugars were recorded in cultivar Frontier (8.96%), reducing sugars in cultivar Monarch (6.98 %) and non-reducing sugars in cultivar Tarrol (2.78 %).Maximum total soluble solids (TSS) were recorded in cultivar Au-Rosa (16.06 0 B), whereas, highest acidity was recorded in cultivar Black Amber (2.22 %) and sugar: acid ratio was registered in cultivar Frontier (7.59).Cultivar Red Plum matured earliest among all the cultivars whereas cultivar Grand Duke matured late.Maximum fruit yield (52.54 kg/tree) was registered in cultivar Frontier while minimum (18.07 kg/tree) was recorded in cultivar Kubio Plum.These cultivars can be further evaluated and used in breeding programme for further improvement of plum.