Влияние погодных условий периода вегетации на лежкоспособность хранения плодов яблони сортов Никитского ботанического сада

The article presents data on the study of the effect of weather conditions on the formation of keeping quality indicators of apple fruits. Such parameters as size, chemical composition (content of sugars, acids, vitamins), as well as disease resistance and shelf life of fruits depending on environmental factors (precipitation, temperature, the sum of effective temperatures and other meteorological conditions) are considered. Based on long-term data, patterns affecting the ability of fruits to maintain quality during storage in the refrigerator were identified. A general decrease in chemical composition indicators was observed as a result of fruit storage. It should be pointed out that there are varieties the fruit storage of which is more or less influenced by external climatic factors. Meteorological factors significantly and reliably influenced the varieties ‘Skifiya’ and ‘Krymskoye Zolotistoye’. It is important to note ‘Medea’ variety, keeping quality of which is practically unaffected by weather factors. This fact indicates high stability of this feature. The variety ‘Khaitarma’ is the least affected by external environmental factors. As a result of our research, we may conclude that correlation coefficients between meteorological factors and keeping quality of apple fruits are a feature of pomological variety. Weather conditions of the growing season influence the formation, biochemical composition, and storage of apple fruits at a different extent depending on the genotype. Searching for the best apple varieties for long-term storage of their fruits is an urgent problem for horticulture. The results of the study will be recommended to be applied in industrial production for optimizing agrotechnical operations, and in the conditions of climate change in Crimea.