Editing Apricot (section)

== Cultivation ==
[[File:Preparing apricots. Alchi Monastery, Ladakh.jpg|thumb|Preparing apricots in the grounds of [[Alchi Monastery]], [[Ladakh]], India]]
[[File:Packard apricots.jpg|thumb|[[David Packard]]'s apricot orchard in [[Los Altos Hills, California|Los Altos Hills]], preserved by the [[David and Lucile Packard Foundation]], is one of the few remaining in [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara County]], where apricots were a major crop before the [[urban sprawl]] of [[Silicon Valley]].]]

=== Origin and domestication ===

==== ''Prunus armeniaca'' ====
{{main|Prunus armeniaca#Origin, domestication and diffusion}}
The most commonly cultivated apricot ''P. armeniaca'' was known in [[Armenia]] during ancient times, and has been cultivated there for so long that it was previously thought to have originated there, hence the epithet of its scientific name.<ref name="ishs121_36">{{cite web |url=http://www.actahort.org/books/121/121_36.htm |title=VII Symposium on Apricot Culture and Decline |publisher=International Society for Horticultural Science |access-date=2012-06-22 |archive-date=2003-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030521122201/http://www.actahort.org/books/121/121_36.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> However, this is not supported by genetic studies, which instead confirm the hypothesis proposed by Nikolai Vavilov that domestication of ''P. armeniaca'' occurred in [[Central Asia]] and [[China]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Liu|first1=Shuo|last2=Cornille|first2=Amandine|last3=Decroocq|first3=Stéphane|last4=Tricon|first4=David|last5=Chague|first5=Aurélie|last6=Eyquard|first6=Jean-Philippe|last7=Liu|first7=Wei-Sheng|last8=Giraud|first8=Tatiana|last9=Decroocq|first9=Véronique|date=2019|title=The complex evolutionary history of apricots: Species divergence, gene flow and multiple domestication events|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mec.15296|journal=Molecular Ecology|language=en|volume=28|issue=24|pages=5299–5314|doi=10.1111/mec.15296|pmid=31677192|bibcode=2019MolEc..28.5299L |s2cid=207833328|issn=1365-294X|access-date=2021-02-17|archive-date=2020-06-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623104145/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/mec.15296|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Bourguiba|first1=Hedia|last2=Scotti|first2=Ivan|last3=Sauvage|first3=Christopher|last4=Zhebentyayeva|first4=Tetyana|last5=Ledbetter|first5=Craig|last6=Krška|first6=Boris|last7=Remay|first7=Arnaud|last8=D’Onofrio|first8=Claudio|last9=Iketani|first9=Hiroyuki|last10=Christen|first10=Danilo|last11=Krichen|first11=Lamia|date=2020|title=Genetic structure of a worldwide germplasm collection of ''Prunus armeniaca'' L. reveals three major diffusion routes for varieties coming from the species' center of origin|journal=Frontiers in Plant Science|language=English|volume=11|page=638|doi=10.3389/fpls.2020.00638|issn=1664-462X|pmc=7261834|pmid=32523597|doi-access=free|bibcode=2020FrPS...11..638B }}</ref> The domesticated apricot then diffused south to [[South Asia]],<ref name=":2" /> west to [[West Asia]] (including Armenia), [[Europe]] and [[North Africa]], and east to [[Japan]].<ref name=":1" />

==== ''Prunus mume'' ====
{{main|Prunus mume#Origin}}
Chinese flowering plum (''[[Prunus mume|P. mume]])'' is another widely cultivated apricot species native to southern China, usually for ornamental uses. Despite the common name, it is more closely related to apricots. This species has been introduced to Japan and Korea. 

=== Cultivation practices===
[[File:Dried apricot fruits in the field (Fergana, Uzbekistan).jpg|thumb|Drying apricot fruits ([[Fergana]], [[Uzbekistan]])]]

Apricots have a chilling requirement of 300 to 900 [[chilling unit]]s. A dry climate is good for fruit maturation. The tree is slightly more cold-hardy than the [[peach]], tolerating winter temperatures as cold as {{convert|-30|°C}} or lower if healthy. However, large differences are observed between cultivars in frost resistance.<ref name="FH">{{cite journal | vauthors = Bakos J, Ladányi M, Szalay L  | title = Frost hardiness of flower buds of 16 apricot cultivars during dormancy | journal = [[Folia Horticulturae]] | volume = 36 | issue = 1 | pages = 81–93 | date = April 2024 | pmid = | doi = 10.2478/fhort-2024-0005| publisher = Polish Society of Horticultural Science | s2cid =  | doi-access = free }}</ref> They are hardy in [[Hardiness zone#United States hardiness zones (USDA scale)|USDA zones]] 5 through 8. A limiting factor in apricot culture is spring [[frost]]s: They tend to flower very early (in early March in western Europe), and spring frost can kill flowers or before flower buds in different stages of development.<ref name="FH"/> Furthermore, the trees are sensitive to temperature changes during the winter season. In China, winters can be very cold, but temperatures tend to be more stable than in [[Europe]] and especially [[North America]], where large temperature swings can occur in winter. [[Hybrid (biology)|Hybridization]] with the closely related ''[[Prunus sibirica]]'' (Siberian apricot; hardy to {{convert|-50|°C}} but with less palatable fruit) offers options for breeding more cold-tolerant plants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Prunus+sibirica |title=Prunus sibirica Siberian Apricot PFAF Plant Database |work=pfaf.org |access-date=2013-11-17 |archive-date=2021-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116010950/https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Prunus+sibirica |url-status=live }}</ref> They prefer well-drained soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apricots |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/apricots/grow-your-own |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=www.rhs.org.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref>

Apricot cultivars are usually [[grafting|grafted]] onto plum or peach rootstocks. The cultivar [[wiktionary:scion|scion]] provides the fruit characteristics, such as flavor and size, but the [[rootstock]] provides the growth characteristics of the plant. Some of the more popular US apricot cultivars are 'Blenheim', 'Wenatchee Moorpark', 'Tilton', and 'Perfection'. Some apricot cultivars are self-compatible, so do not require pollinizer trees; others are not: 'Moongold' and 'Sungold', for example, must be planted in pairs so they can pollinate each other.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Herrera |first1=Sara |last2=Lora |first2=Jorge |last3=Hormaza |first3=José I. |last4=Herrero |first4=Maria |last5=Rodrigo |first5=Javier |date=2018 |title=Optimizing Production in the New Generation of Apricot Cultivars: Self-incompatibility, S-RNase Allele Identification, and Incompatibility Group Assignment |journal=Frontiers in Plant Science |volume=9 |page=527 |doi= 10.3389/fpls.2018.00527|pmid=29755489 |pmc=5935046 |issn=1664-462X|doi-access=free |bibcode=2018FrPS....9..527H }}</ref>

Hybridisors have created what is known as a "black apricot" or "purple apricot", (''[[Prunus dasycarpa]]''), a hybrid of an apricot and the cherry plum (''[[Prunus cerasifera]]''). Other apricot–plum hybrids are variously called [[Pluot|plumcots, apriplums, pluots, or apriums]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-10 |title=Adorable Apricots – The Essential Guide to probably everything you need to know about growing Apricot – Prunus armeniaca |url=https://www.permaculturenews.org/2023/01/10/adorable-apricots-the-essential-guide-to-probably-everything-you-need-to-know-about-growing-apricot-prunus-armeniaca/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=The Permaculture Research Institute |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Pests and diseases ===
{{Main|List of apricot diseases}}

Apricots are susceptible to various diseases whose relative importance differs in the major production regions as a consequence of their climatic differences. For example, hot weather as experienced in California's Central Valley often causes pit burn, a condition of soft and brown fruit around the pit.<ref>{{cite book | last = Ingels| first= Chuck |display-authors=etal | title=The Home Orchard: Growing Your Own Deciduous Fruit and Nut Trees|isbn=978-1-879906-72-3 | page=27 | year=2007 | publisher=University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources}}</ref> Bacterial diseases include bacterial spot and crown gall. Fungal diseases include brown rot caused by ''[[Monilinia fructicola]]'': infection of the blossom by rainfall leads to "blossom wilt"<ref name=Hessayon2004>{{cite book|title=The Fruit Expert|author=Hessayon, D.G. |author-link = D. G. Hessayon|publisher=Expert Books|year=2004|location=London}}</ref> whereby the blossoms and young shoots turn brown and die; the twigs die back in a severe attack; brown rot of the fruit is due to ''Monilinia'' infection later in the season. Dieback of branches in the summer is attributed to the fungus ''[[Eutypa lata]]'', where examination of the base of the dead branch reveals a canker surrounding a pruning wound.<ref name=Munkvold2001>{{cite journal|last1=Munkvold|first1=Gary P.|title=Eutypa Dieback of Grapevine and Apricot|journal=Plant Health Progress|year=2001|volume=2|issue=1 |page=9|doi=10.1094/PHP-2001-0219-01-DG|doi-access=free|bibcode=2001PlaHP...2....9M }}</ref> Other fungal diseases are [[Dibotryon morbosum|black knot]], ''Alternaria'' spot and fruit rot, and [[powdery mildew]].<ref>[http://www.apsnet.org/publications/commonnames/Pages/Apricot.aspx Diseases of Apricot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624050543/http://www.apsnet.org/publications/commonnames/Pages/Apricot.aspx |date=2016-06-24 }}. The American Phytopathological Society</ref> Unlike peaches, apricots are not affected by [[leaf curl]], and bacterial canker (causing sunken patches in the bark, which then spread and kill the affected branch or tree) and silver leaf are not serious threats, which means that pruning in late winter is considered safe.<ref name=Hessayon2004 />

===Kernel===
{{Main|Apricot kernel}}
Due to their natural [[amygdalin]] content, culinary uses for the kernel are limited. Oil made from apricot kernels is safe for human consumption without treatment because amygdalin is not oil soluble. Ground up shells are used in [[cosmetics]] as an exfoliant.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Southey |first1=Flora |title=Are fruit seeds the new nuts? |url=https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/05/14/Are-fruit-seeds-the-new-nuts-Meet-the-start-up-upcycling-fruit-kernels-into-oil-flour-and-alt-milk |website=foodnavigator.com |date=14 May 2021 |publisher=Food Navigator |access-date=9 May 2022 |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524084606/https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/05/14/Are-fruit-seeds-the-new-nuts-Meet-the-start-up-upcycling-fruit-kernels-into-oil-flour-and-alt-milk |url-status=live }}</ref> As an exfoliant, it provides an alternative to plastic [[microbeads]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pierre-Louis |first1=Kendra |title=800 Trillion Plastic Microbeads Go Down Drains Every Day |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/800-trillion-plastic-microbeads-go-down-drains-every-day/ |website=pbs.org |date=8 October 2015 |publisher=PBS |access-date=9 May 2022 |archive-date=9 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509180540/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/800-trillion-plastic-microbeads-go-down-drains-every-day/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="width:14em; text-align:center;"
! colspan=2|Apricot production – 2022
|-
!  style="background:#ddf; width:50%;"| Country
!  style="background:#ddf; width:25%;"| <small>millions of [[tonne]]s<br/></small>
|-
|{{TUR}} ||0.80
|-
|{{UZB}} ||0.45
|-
|{{IRN}} ||0.31
|-
|{{ITA}} ||0.23
|-
|{{ALG}} ||0.20
|-
|'''World''' ||'''3.86'''
|-
|colspan=2|<small>Source: [[FAOSTAT]], [[United Nations]]<ref name=faostat/></small>
|}

=== Production ===
{{See also|List of countries by apricot production}}In 2022, world production of apricots was 3.86 million [[tonne]]s, led by Turkey with 21% of the total (table). Other major producers (in descending order) were [[Uzbekistan]], [[Iran]], [[Italy]], and [[Algeria]].<ref name="faostat">{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC|publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Statistics Division (FAOSTAT)|title=Production Quantities of Apricots by Country in 2022; Crops/World Regions/Production Quantity/Year from picklists|date=2024|access-date=28 May 2024}}</ref> [[Malatya]] is the center of Turkey's apricot industry.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Denker |first1=Joel |title='Moon Of The Faith:' A History Of The Apricot And Its Many Pleasures |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/06/14/481932829/moon-of-the-faith-a-history-of-the-apricot-and-its-many-pleasures |website=npr.org |date=14 June 2016 |publisher=National Public Radio |access-date=9 May 2022 |archive-date=8 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808231633/https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/06/14/481932829/moon-of-the-faith-a-history-of-the-apricot-and-its-many-pleasures |url-status=live }}</ref>