Pomology
Seyed Asghar mousavi; Akram Vatankhah; Ali Imani
Abstract
Introduction
Almond is a commercial and important nut fruit known as Prunus dulcis, a species of Prunus of the Rosaceae family. The nutritional value of almonds as well as the presence of oil, protein, fiber, minerals and biologically active compounds have made almonds Nutrionally, industrially and medicinally ...
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Introduction
Almond is a commercial and important nut fruit known as Prunus dulcis, a species of Prunus of the Rosaceae family. The nutritional value of almonds as well as the presence of oil, protein, fiber, minerals and biologically active compounds have made almonds Nutrionally, industrially and medicinally important. In most native orchards of Iran, almonds are cultivated through seeds, which has increased the genetic diversity of this plant. The introduction and production of superior cultivars depends on the careful selection of plants, which requires knowledge of the cultivars and their diversity. Cross-pollination in almond increases genetic diversity in cultivated species. Creating a orchard by selecting grafted genotypes on suitable rootstocks for sustainable cultivation of almonds is particularly important (Babadai et al., 2017). The aim of this research is to evaluate the phenotypic diversity of 44 promising genotypes that were grafted on GF677 rootstock, using the vegetative, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of nuts and kernels in order to select superior genotypes. A great diversity was observed in the morphological and pomological characteristics of 60 almond genotypes by Ardjmand et al. (2014). Many researches (Mousavi et al., 2010; Asgari and Khadivi 2021; Heidari et al., 2022; Beigi and Khadivi, 2023) have been conducted on the selection of superior cultivars by examining the morphological, nut and kernel characteristics.
Materials and methods:
In this research, 44 promising almond cultivars and genotypes on GF677 rootstock were investigated in terms of various vegetative traits, nut and kernel characteristics. Experiment on 44 almond genotypes prepared from Karaj and grafted on GF677 rootstock, in March to September 2024 in the form of randomized complete block design in three replications at the almond research station in Saman region affiliated to the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center was conducted on 5-year-old trees. Vegetative traits of tree height, canopy length, canopy width, and branch length were measured by meter in the garden, and rootstock diameter, scion diameter, and branch diameter were measured in the garden with calipers. In order to measure nut and kernel traits, 100 fruits were harvested from each of the cultivars and genotypes, and their green shell was separated and dried. Measurement of traits such as length, width, diameter of nut and kernel was done by digital caliper and weight of nut and kernel was measured by digital scale with accuracy of 0.01. Coding of some traits was done based on almond descriptor (Gülcan, 1985) with some changes. The data obtained from the experiment were analyzed using SAS software (version 3.1.9). To compare the means, LSD least significant difference test was used at the 5% probability level.
Results and Discussion
The results of analysis of variance for the evaluation of vegetative traits showed that there was a significant difference between promising cultivars and genotypes in terms of tree height, canopy length and canopy width, one-year branch length, canopy length-to- canopy width ratio, and canopy height-to- canopy length ratio at the 1% probability level. The results of the analysis of variance showed that between all cultivars and genotypes grafted on GF677 rootstock in terms of length, width, diameter and weight of nuts, length, width, weight and diameter of kernel, shell thickness, double kernel, percentage of blank kernel, kernel color and shrinkage of kernel, shell hardness, suture opening of the shell, percentage of kernel, kernel width/kernel length ratio, kernel thickness/kernel length ratio, kernel thickness/kernel width ratio and kernel weight/nut weight ratio have significant differences. Based on the obtained results, the genotypes 4-4, TS-11, H, 2-3-2, 2-0-4 according to the valuable and commercial properties of almonds, including yield, kernel percentage, shell hardness, percentage of blank kernel, kernel weight, suture opening of the shell, double kernel, shell thickness, kernel color and most importantly late flower were genotypes with relative superiority in terms of nut and kernel traits. According to the results, the 4-4 genotype grafted on the GF677 rootstock with yield of 750 gr, 51% kernel percentage , hard shell, excellent seal suture opening of the shell, very light kernel color, late flowering, flowering on spurs and one year old shoots, the low of double kernel and low percentage of blank kernel seems to be one of the relatively good genotypes for Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari region. In the study of Mousavi et al., 2010, by examining the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of 55 varieties and genotypes of almonds, reported that all quantitative and qualitative traits in the genotypes have significant differences, which is in line with the results of this research.
Conclusion
Based on the results of this study, significant variation in morphology, phenology, and pomology was observed among 44 promising genotypes grafted onto GF677 rootstock. This variation is of great importance in selecting superior cultivars that are adapted to environmental conditions, as well as in selecting high-yielding genotypes. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, with its specific climatic conditions, requires varieties that are adapted to these conditions. The climatic conditions of this region include hot and dry summers and cold winters, so varieties that are resistant to cold and drought should be selected, especially varieties whose flowering date is such that they are safe from the risk of spring frost. Based on the obtained results, the genotypes 4-4, TS-11, H, 2-3-2, 2-0-4 according to the valuable and commercial properties of almonds, including yield, kernel percentage, shell hardness, percentage of blank kernel, kernel weight, suture opening of the shell, double kernel, shell thickness, kernel color and most importantly late flower were genotypes with relative superiority in terms of nut and kernel traits. According to the results, the 4-4 genotype grafted on the GF677 rootstock with yield of 750 gr, 51% kernel percentage, hard shell, excellent seal suture opening of the shell, very light kernel color, late flowering, flowering on spurs and one year old shoots, the low of double kernel and low percentage of blank kernel seems to be one of the relatively good genotypes for Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari region.
Pomology
S.A. Mousavi; A. Vatankhah; A. Imani
Abstract
Introduction
Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) is one of the valuable nut trees that is cultivated in many temperate regions and Mediterranean climatic conditions for domestic consumption and export. Almond belongs to the genus Prunus, from the Rosaceae family. Identifying and introducing genotypes and cultivars ...
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Introduction
Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) is one of the valuable nut trees that is cultivated in many temperate regions and Mediterranean climatic conditions for domestic consumption and export. Almond belongs to the genus Prunus, from the Rosaceae family. Identifying and introducing genotypes and cultivars of late bloom is one of the most important goals of almond breeding programs. The correct choice of almond rootstock causes better management of the garden, compatibility with all types of soil and resistance to nematodes. Peach × almond hybrid has been the most widely used rootstock in both dry and irrigated conditions in the past years. Creating an orchard by selecting grafted genotypes on suitable rootstock for sustainable cultivation of almonds is particularly important. Cultivation of superior genotypes grafted on fruit trees has an effect on pomological characteristics, yield and quality of nuts. The requirement for the introduction and production of superior cultivars is an accurate selection between cultivars, which is possible through the identification of cultivars and their diversity. The purpose of this research is to investigate and evaluate the most important vegetative, phenological, quantitative, and qualitative characteristics of nuts and kernels in 36 promising cultivars and genotypes grafted onto GN15 rootstock, with the goal of identifying and introducing superior cultivars.
Materials and Methods
In this research, 36 promising almond cultivars and genotypes on GN15 rootstock were investigated in garden conditions in terms of various vegetative traits, nut and kernel characteristics in order to obtain suitable commercial cultivars. This research was conducted at the Badam research station in Saman region affiliated to the Center for Research and Education of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province as a randomized complete block design with three replications. The cultivars and genotypes studied are presented in Table 1. Vegetative traits of tree height, canopy length, canopy width, and branch length were measured by meter in the garden, and rootstock diameter, scion diameter, and branch diameter were measured in the garden with calipers. In order to measure the nut and kernels, 100 fruits were harvested from each of the studied cultivars and genotypes at the time of fruit ripening, and their green shell was separated and dried. Measurement of traits such as length, width, diameter of nut and kernel was done by digital caliper and weight of nut and kernel was measured by digital scale with accuracy of 0.01. Coding of some traits was done based on almond descriptor (Gülcan, 1985) with some changes. The data obtained from the experiment were analyzed using SAS software (version 3.1.9). To compare the means, Duncan's multiple range test was used at the 5% probability level.
Table 1- Promising cultivars and genotypes examined in this study (based on the sent label of the scion)
Cultivar/genotype
Cultivar/genotype code
Cultivar/genotype
Cultivar/genotype code
TS-16
GA1
2-29 (D7)
GA 19
D
GA 2
100-1-1
GA 20
TS-21
GA 3
2-0-4
GA 21
TS-14
GA 4
3-1-4
GA 22
Aviz
GA 5
TS-18
GA 23
A8
GA 6
D2
GA 24
B8
GA 7
TS-30
GA 25
100-1-8-1
GA8
1306 (Tabriz genotype)
GA 26
2-3-2
GA 9
AH2 (Tabriz genotype)
GA 27
TS-11
GA 10
108 (Tabriz genotype)
GA28
( 1/16) 1-16
GA 11
Yalda
GA29
3-1-15
GA 12
Saba
GA 30
13-40
GA 13
Shamshiri (Shahrekord)
GA 31
TS1
GA 14
AY (Shahrekord)
GA 32
8-35
GA 15
Mamaei
GA 33
85
GA 16
AN2 (Shahrekord)
GA 34
35
GA 17
AN4 (Shahrekord)
GA 35
B6
GA 18
AN5 (Shahrekord)
GA 36
Results and Discussion
According to the results of analysis of variance (ANOVA), there was a statistically significant difference at the level of 1% between the attributes of tree height, canopy width, rootstock and scion diameter, branch length and diameter, and the ratio of tree height to canopy length. (P<0.01). The results of variance analysis show that there is a significant difference between the investigated nut and kernel traits in promising cultivars and genotypes grafted on GN (Table 5). These differences show the diversity in the investigated traits and it is possible to choose cultivars for different values of the same trait. Based on the average comparison results of the vegetative traits, the highest height in genotypes GA4, GA3, GA35, The highest canopy width was observed in genotypes GA5, GA17, GA3, and GA20, GA15, GA5, the highest diameter of rootstock and scion, and the highest length and diameter of one-year branches were observed in genotype GA18. The results of the comparison of the average nut and kernel characteristics show that there is a significant difference in the cultivars and genotypes investigated in this research. The results of the comparison of the average nut and kernel characteristics show that there is a significant difference in the cultivars and genotypes investigated in this research. Based on the obtained results, cultivars and genotypes of GA5, GA24, GA12, GA9 and GA1 showed relative superiority in terms of nut and kernel traits. The results of this research showed that the GA35 genotype grafted on the GN15 rootstock had the highest length, width and diameter of the nut, and the highest weight of nut and kernel. The kernel color light, the without shrinking the kernel and the highest percentage of kernel and the highest ratio of kernel weight to nut weight.
Conclusions
The results of this research showed that the examination of vegetative traits, nuts and kernels in the studied cultivars and genotypes could show the diversity between cultivars and genotypes. The results showed that the investigated cultivars and genotypes have significant differences in terms of all nut and kernel traits, which indicates the existence of diversity between the investigated cultivars and genotypes. This indicates that these cultivars and genotypes can be considered a valuable source of germplasm for breeding programs. Cultivars and genotypes with a higher kernel percentage had thinner shells, more patterns on the skin, and light to medium kernel color. Based on the results, the cultivars and genotypes GA5, GA24, GA12, GA9, and GA1 demonstrated relative superiority in terms of nut and kernel traits. The research also showed that the GA35 genotype grafted onto GN15 rootstock had the greatest nut length, width, and diameter, as well as the highest nut and kernel weight. Additionally, GA35 had light kernel color, no kernel shrinkage, the highest kernel percentage, and the highest kernel-to-nut weight ratio.
