The variability of the maturation period, mass and size of fruits of different apple varieties in the Botanical garden named after Vs.M. Krutovsky

The results of researches on the definition of in-dicators of fruits of an apple-tree in the Botanical garden named after Vs.M. Krutovsky are presented in the study. These indicators, along with features of the area of cultivation and the applied agrotech-nology, significantly influence storage period of fruits. The apple-tree collection in memorial part of the garden is presented by grades of different geo-graphical origin, selection and terms of maturing (only 39 grades). The phenological observations, which have been conducted since 1989, are used to determine the terms of collecting fruits. The data for the last four years (2013-2016) are provided. The maximum age of trees for researches made 112 years. It was established that the earliest ma-turing of fruits and terms of their collecting were noted in a summer grade of cup-shaped Arcade (in 2016 from July 28 to August 31), the latest at the winter - General Orlov (in 2014 - on September, 15-18). The average mass of fruits for collecting varies from 42.8 (Nobilis) to 111.8 g (Papirovka) at summer grades. At grades of winter term of matur-ing in comparison with other grades the grade Bis-marck differs in the greatest weight (average for the studied period made 135.5 g, maximum - 182 g in 2015). The grades White apples, Papirovka, An-tonovka ordinary, Bismarck are characterized by large fruits. The fruits with a long shelf life are An-tonovka vulgaris, Pepin; fruits with an average shelf life are Winter Arcade, Bismarck, General Orlov.