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Apple is one of the most consumed fruits in the world and as well one of the most important crops in temperate areas. Apple scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis is damaging diseases that affects apple species and causes up to 70% yield losses depending of cultivar’s resistance. In order to control this disease, costly chemical pesticides are necessary, which increase the pollution of environment by their toxicity. This study is focused on checking the behaviour of certain apple varieties from the pomological collection at UASVM Cluj-Napoca against apple scab infection. Nine apple cultivars ('Fuji Kiku', 'Red Cap', 'Lena', 'Katja', 'Gala Mitchgla', 'Fiesta', 'Yellow', 'Pinova' and 'Reinette du Canada'), were analysed in terms of behaviour to scab attack on leaves and fruits. Visual observations were completed by molecular analyses for the potential presence of the Vf gene in some cases. Combining results from visual observation and molecular assays, the 'Lena' and 'Pinova' cultivars were noted as resistant to scab in our field trial conditions. This indicates a good opportunity to bring them into apple breeding programs for resistance to apple scab.

The research subject of this paper was conducted in Satu Mare County, Romania, where three strawberry cultivars have been studied, namely ‘Alba’, ‘Viktoriana’ and ‘Camarosa’, on two different types of mulch (black mulch and straw mulch). Observations, measurements, and determinations have been made regarding the growing vigor of the bushes, productivity and fruit quality. The productivity analysis favored the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar as highly productive, which is why this cultivar can be proposed for use in plantations. The different mulch types have significantly influenced the weight of the fruit quality, the highest weight being obtained on the black foil substrate. As for the fruit quality, the ‘Camarosa’ cultivar, which is very valuable from the qualitative point of view, obtained the highest average value of the sugar content measurements, precisely (8.7°Brix).

The influence of cutting roots on the growth and fruiting of ‘top group’ plum cultivars (‘Topfirst’, ‘Topfive’, ‘Toptaste’, ‘Tophit’ and ‘Topend Plus’), under the pedoclimatic conditions of Sînmihaiu Almasului, in the centre of Transylvania, Romania, in 2017-2018, was studied. The trees were grafted on Saint Julien rootstock, trained as Zahn Spindel and the orchard had a density of 1000 trees/ha. Roots were cut twice, at 40 cm distance from the trunk, in an angle of 45° and 30 cm depth, as followed: first time in the autumn during the fall of leaves, on one side of the row and the second time in spring, at blooming time, on the other side of the row. The measurements were done each year after the leaves have been fallen. There were made observations on some growth parameters (length of shoots, height of trees, trunk sectional area, the fruits and vegetative branches ratio) and fructification (average yield for 2017-2018 period, and was determined the productivity index). The treatments influenced the shoot growth, height of the trees, cumulative yield, trunk cross sectional area, the ratio of the yield to a trunk sectional area, with differences statistically assured. Root pruning reduced the average length of shoots. The longest shoots, in mean values, gave the unpruned root variant (131.0 cm). Root pruning decreased the average length of annual growth (51.1 cm). The biggest average trunk cross sectional area with the unpruned root system was obtained (58.7 cm2). Also root pruning influenced the height of the trees. The best cumulative yield was obtained in the variant of root pruning system (28.75 t/ha) followed by the unpruned root system (25.87 t/ha). Finally, root pruning increased productivity. The biggest value was registered in ‘Tophit’ in the root pruned variant (0.73 kg/cm2). The lowest value of productivity index was obtained in the unpruned system.

Weed problems were reported in almost all production areas, and management of competing unwanted vegetation has long been an issue for commercial growers all around the world. A field trial was set up in 2016 in Bologa, Cluj county, Romania, in order to examine the influence that different mulches have on weed control, crop growth, yield and soil properties. Weed management is critical for successful production of blueberries. The use of herbicides is becoming increasingly limited, the cost and availability of manual labor are prohibitive factors. There was little research comparing different production strategies in container grown blueberries. The main objective was finding a cost effective weed suppression method that increases yield, promotes vegetative growth and fruit quality. Organic matter (OM) was 6% higher in pine bark treatment compared with weed mat, the pH was not influenced in a significant way by any of the treatments. The number of shoots was higher in pine bark treatment, 1.67 on average, compared to weed mat treatment where the number of shoots was 1.45 this might lead to an increase of production in the following years for pine bark.

Cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a species appreciated by consumers for the taste of the fruit and spread among producers due to the profitability of the orchards. In Transylvania, there are several varieties that are well known and appreciated for the adaptability to the eco-climatic conditions, but a general overview and a comprehensive description of them is still lacking. The aim of the study was to establish phenotypic profiles for the important varieties found at UASVM Cluj-Napoca, which are to be completed in time, including also genetic mapping and biochemical descriptors. Correlating these with ecological data, and part of a research project, the study aims in the end at elaborating a general data base for the fruit tree genotypes. The characteristics of the leaf, flowers and fruit were investigated, following UPOV guidelines and data from the scientific literature. The first data were put together regarding the flowering (with the specific offset for the early-late varieties in the collection), followed by fruiting. Flowering was obviously staggered between the studied cultivars, but all were affected by the atypical spring of 2024, with very high temperatures and little precipitation. Thus, it can be concluded that flowering was abundant in all cultivars, with longer lasting flowers (petal shedding was delayed by 3-5 days compared to typical cultivars). Fruits were harvested at full maturity (proper for consumption), at different times- specific to the varieties in the collection (May-June 2024), and determinations show significant differences for fruit set, health status, weight and diameter of fruit. It is of great value to offer complete and specific information to producers about the varieties of interest in different areas. Thus, the need of a comprehensive data base for fruit tree is taken into consideration and investigations are in progress, as evaluating genetic diversity of morpho-physiological traits in sweet cherry cultivars is of current interest.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the genetic uniformity of blackberry plants (Rubus fruticosus L. 'Loch Ness' and 'Chester Thornless') obtained by micropropagation. Genetic uniformity was analysed by using RAPD and SRAP markers. For the in vitro multiplication, the slightly modified Murashige and Skoog (1962) basal medium was used, supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 6-Benzyladenine (BA), prepared with tap water and 50 g/l wheat starch as the gelling agent. This culture medium ensured the regeneration of well-developed plantlets, with multiplication rates of more than 42 for both cultivars. The in vitro multiplication was carried out in 30 months including 12 subcultures. The plants obtained from the 3rd and 11th subcultures were compared with the mother plants using 64 SRAP primer combinations (eight forward and eight reverse primers) and 20 RAPD primers to check their genetic fidelity. The amplification products were monomorphic in the micropropagated plants and the mother plant. No polymorphism was detected, thus proving the genetic fidelity and uniformity of the micropropagated plants.