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<p>Apricot (<i>Prunus armeniaca&#xa0;L.</i>) is a&#xa0;hardy, nutrient-rich fruit crop with a&#xa0;wide geographical distribution from Asia to North America. Despite its adaptability to temperate climates, apricot cultivation in India particularly in the sub-temperate Northwestern Himalayan region remains underexploited due to limited understanding of its phenological development. The present study hypothesized that systematic phenological characterization using a&#xa0;standardized growth stage scale, combined with growing degree days (GDD), would provide critical insights for cultivar selection and improved crop management under sub-temperate Indian conditions. To test this, we employed, for the first time in this region, the BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie) scale to precisely document the phenological stages of seven apricot cultivars (‘EMA,’ ‘Harcot,’ ‘New castle,’ ‘Turkey, ‘CITH‑1’, ‘CITH-2’, and ‘CITH-3’) from bud dormancy to fruit harvest. Thermal requirements were calculated using GDD, revealing distinct varietal differences: ‘EMA’ (early-season) matured with the lowest GDD requirement (1171.45 ± 6.1), followed by mid-season cultivars ‘Harcot’ (1303.38 ± 7.7) and ‘New castle’ (1310.6 ± 11.1), while late-season cultivars ‘CITH‑3’, ‘CITH‑2’, ‘CITH‑1’ and ‘Turkey’ required significantly higher GDDs (ranging from 1498.23 ± 6 to 1667.03 ± 10.8). ‘EMA’ demonstrated superior adaptability to the sub-temperate environment, producing the highest yield (22.75 kg/tree) along with the largest fruit size, weight, and volume. ‘New castle’ and ‘CITH-1’ outperformed in quality attributes such as total soluble solids, sugar profiles, acidity, and ascorbic acid content. A&#xa0;strong positive correlation was observed between yield and productivity parameters, supporting the relevance of GDD-based phenological tracking. The findings underscore the practical utility of integrating the BBCH scale with GDD analysis to guide cultivar selection, optimize agro-practices, and enhance apricot production in underutilized hill regions. This approach offers a&#xa0;replicable model for phenology-based orchard management in other temperate fruit crops, thereby contributing to region-specific horticultural planning and food security.</p>

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Mapping Apricot Phenology and Growing Degree Days Using BBCH Scale in the Sub-Temperate Northwest Himalayan Region of India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月12日

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  • Richa Rana,
  • Gopal Singh,
  • Pramod Verma,
  • Kalpna Sharma

摘要

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is a hardy, nutrient-rich fruit crop with a wide geographical distribution from Asia to North America. Despite its adaptability to temperate climates, apricot cultivation in India particularly in the sub-temperate Northwestern Himalayan region remains underexploited due to limited understanding of its phenological development. The present study hypothesized that systematic phenological characterization using a standardized growth stage scale, combined with growing degree days (GDD), would provide critical insights for cultivar selection and improved crop management under sub-temperate Indian conditions. To test this, we employed, for the first time in this region, the BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie) scale to precisely document the phenological stages of seven apricot cultivars (‘EMA,’ ‘Harcot,’ ‘New castle,’ ‘Turkey, ‘CITH‑1’, ‘CITH-2’, and ‘CITH-3’) from bud dormancy to fruit harvest. Thermal requirements were calculated using GDD, revealing distinct varietal differences: ‘EMA’ (early-season) matured with the lowest GDD requirement (1171.45 ± 6.1), followed by mid-season cultivars ‘Harcot’ (1303.38 ± 7.7) and ‘New castle’ (1310.6 ± 11.1), while late-season cultivars ‘CITH‑3’, ‘CITH‑2’, ‘CITH‑1’ and ‘Turkey’ required significantly higher GDDs (ranging from 1498.23 ± 6 to 1667.03 ± 10.8). ‘EMA’ demonstrated superior adaptability to the sub-temperate environment, producing the highest yield (22.75 kg/tree) along with the largest fruit size, weight, and volume. ‘New castle’ and ‘CITH-1’ outperformed in quality attributes such as total soluble solids, sugar profiles, acidity, and ascorbic acid content. A strong positive correlation was observed between yield and productivity parameters, supporting the relevance of GDD-based phenological tracking. The findings underscore the practical utility of integrating the BBCH scale with GDD analysis to guide cultivar selection, optimize agro-practices, and enhance apricot production in underutilized hill regions. This approach offers a replicable model for phenology-based orchard management in other temperate fruit crops, thereby contributing to region-specific horticultural planning and food security.