RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILLING REQUIREMENTS DURING SEEDS STRATIFICATION FOR GERMINATE AND SPROUTING OF APPLE SEEDLINGS

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the chilling stratification requirements of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) seed during germination and the corresponding seedling chilling requirement for bud-break. A total of 943 seedlings resulting from crosses and open pollination of ‘Dorsett Golden’, ‘Anna’, ‘Aguanueva II’ and ‘Dulcina’ were used in this study. Two highly significant correlations were found between days for seed germination and mean of days for seedling bud-break (r = 0.85**) and between days required to individual seed germination and days for individual seedling bud-break (r = 0.51**).