One of the serious problems faced by fruit growers is the low quantity of available cultivars regionally. The production of new genetic materials is a feasible and necessary alternative to minimize this obstacle. This work aimed to select different genetic materials of plums in order to obtain high productivity plants and high quality fruits, with assigned maturation and adapted to the climatic conditions for the Southern region of the state of Minas Gerais. Plants of an old orchard were selected, located in the district of Wenceslau Braz, Minas Gerais State, which were vegetating and producing in adverse agronomic conditions, without any cultural practices. The following phenological data were collected: flower color; sprouting and blooming. From fruits were evaluated: maturation (beginning and end), size, form, and skin and pulp description. After two productive cycles of evaluation (1996/1997 and 1997/1998) clones with desirable characteristics were identified, related to blooming, fruit maturation and environmental improvement. The precocious maturation occurred in the selection VI, while the longest harvest were selections I, VII, VIII and XI.
Prunus sp; breeding; selection; clones; phenology
