Phenological characteristics and yield potential in eight promising peach hybrids from selection based on fruit quality were studied in this paper. The hybrids flowered from late March to mid-April, and fruit ripened from late August to late September. The FS3, FS4, and FS7 hybrids had the highest density of flower buds. The initial fruit set was quite high (73.9%) and the final fruit set was much lower (32.2%). Fruit weight ranged from 129.8 g (FS4 hybrid) to 178.1 g (FS7 hybrid). The FS3 and FS7 hybrids had the highest yield per 1 m of shoot length (3.5 kg), and the FS2 hybrid had the highest yield per tree (25.3 kg) and the highest yield efficiency (0.30 kg cm-2). The FS2, FS3, and FS7 hybrids stood out based on yield potential. They are good candidates for release as new high-yielding peach cultivars or for use in further breeding efforts.

Aim of study: To determine the self-compatibility level of eight quince cultivars. Area of study: The region of Belgrade (Central Serbia). Material and methods: Pollen tube growth in vivo and fruit set in two pollination variants (self- and open-pollination) were studied in eight quince cultivars. The quantitative parameters of pollen tube growth (average number of pollen tubes in the upper and middle third of the style, base of the style and in the ovary; the dynamics of pollen tube growth through these parts of the pistil) was determined using the fluorescence microscopy. Main results: The parameters of pollen tube growth and fruit set were primarily dependent on the genotype and variants of pollination. All studied parameters were significantly higher in the open-pollination variant compared with the self-pollination in all cultivars. In the self-pollination variant, ʻLeskovackaʼ and ʻVranjskaʼ had the highest number of pollen tubes that penetrated the ovary (2.10 and 0.54 in average, respectively), as well as the largest percentage of pistils with the penetration of pollen tubes in the nucellus of ovules six days after pollination (40.09% and 14.74%). Also, they had the highest percentage of initial fruit set (17.01% and 28.52%) and final fruit set (9.32% and 9.86%). Based on this, ʻLeskovackaʼ and ʻVranjskaʼ can be classified as self-compatible cultivars, while the others are self-incompatible.Research highlights: The majority of quince cultivars were self-incompatible. When establishing new orchards with these cultivars, care should be taken about the choice of pollenisers in order to achieve high yields.

The results of two-year research (2011-2012) of the most important morphological characteristics of 1-year-old shoots in eight peach hybrids obtained from a crossing combination Flaminia ? Hale Tardiva Spadoni were shown in this paper. The following characteristics were studied in tested hybrids: length and diameter of shoots, internode length, number of flowers and vegetative buds per shoot, ratio of flower to vegetative buds, number of flower buds per node and 1-m length of a shoot. The properties of sylleptic shoots on one-year-old shoots have also been studied. The significant differences were determined among the hybrids for parameters such as the diameter of shoots, internode length, number of flower and vegetative buds per shoot. Hybrids FH1 and FH6 were characterized by the highest density of flower buds, so that they are singled out as potentially the most yielding. These hybrids may be of interest for growing in areas where there is a risk of frost and in the domain of breeding when creating new peach cultivars of high yield potential.

Interest for new strawberry cultivars in the world is increasing due to high demands for nutritionally valuable fruits with good agronomic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fruit quality of three new promising strawberry cultivars - 'Asia', 'Joly', and 'Premy' and to determine their potential for providing high-quality fruits for the market. Among the analyzed parameters physical and biochemical properties of the fruit were measured, followed by a sensory analysis of the fruit attractiveness, taste and aroma. The cultivar 'Joly' had the biggest fruits, with the highest fruit weight, length and diameter. The smallest fruits were present in the cultivar 'Premy'. The highest soluble solids and titratable acidity were present in the cultivar 'Premy', while these parameters were the lowest in the cultivar 'Joly'. The cultivar 'Premy' also had the highest antioxidant capacity, measured by both assays (ABTS and DPPH). The cultivar 'Joly' was superior in comparison to other cultivars regarding the content of phenols and flavonoids, which are important nutritional components of the fruit. Regarding the fruit attractiveness, all the studied cultivars were rated as attractive, but regarding the taste and aroma the cultivar 'Joly' showed the best results and had the highest overall rating. Each of the three analyzed cultivars showed different potential, depending on consumers' preferences towards taste and nutritional value of strawberry fruits.

Some of the specific characteristics of quince fruits, such as the high content of pectin substances and relatively low content of fermentable sugars, lead to certain challenges during alcoholic fermentation. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of quince variety on fermentation dynamics, alcohol yield and chemical composition of produced spirits. Nine quince varieties grown at the experimental field "Radmilovac" (University of Belgrade - Faculty of Agriculture), were used in this study: Vranjska (SRB), Leskovačka (SRB), Morava (SRB), Pazardžijska (BLG), Hemus (BLG), Asenica (BLG), Portugal (POR), Triumph (BLG) and Rea's Mammoth (USA). The investigation was carried out in 2018. Soluble solids content in quince fruits was in the range from 12.90% (Pazardžijska) to 16.80% (Morava). Total sugars and total acids expressed as malic acid were in the range from 6.74 % and 0.53% w/w (Pazardžijska) to 9.76 % and 1.27% w/w (Morava), respectively. The highest alcohol content had spirits made from quince varieties Leskovačka and Asenica (9.88 litres of 40% vol. alcohol from 100kg of fruit), while the lowest alcohol content had spirit made from variety Rea's Mammoth (7.20 litres of 40% vol. alcohol from 100 kg of fruit). All spirit samples had methanol content (up to 1350 g/hl, calculated at 100% of alcohol) and other quality parameters in accordance with the legal regulations.