Selection, Cultivation and Commercialization of Central Asian Apricots in California

Apricot production in the United States has declined over the past several decades, possibly due to the shift in consumer preference from canned to fresh fruit consumption, and consumer dissatisfaction with “supermarket apricots.” Consumers desire higher quality cultivars than currently available. Central Asia is a center of origin for apricot (Prunus armeniaca L). Recognizing this unique source of diversity, several breeding programs in the United States have incorporated Central Asian germplasm in their apricot breeding strategies. In the mid-1990’s, I collected a wide diversity of apricot seeds over a very extensive geographical range in Central Asia that formed the basis of our selection and breeding program. The diversity of this collection, which includes glabrous, white-fleshed, and dry-on-the-tree selections, will be presented. High soluble solids (21º to 30º Brix) and complex flavors characterize our selections. Field trials of the most promising selections are underway worldwide, and commercialization has begun in California.