Comparative Hardiness of Flower Buds and Blossoms of Some Almond Genotypes in Relation to Time of Bloom and Leafing1

The relationship between hardiness of flower buds and blossoms, and time of leafing was studied in 25 almond cultivars, species and interspecific hybrids. In artificial freezing tests, genotypes of almond ( Prunus amygdalus Batsch) and related species and interspecific hybrids exhibited a wide range of hardiness. A relationship was observed between blossom hardiness and time from leafing to bloom with some exceptions. Results show that genetic sources for blossom hardiness, not necessarily related to time of bloom, exist in these species.