Evaluation of Offspring Obtained from Crossing Between Superior Local Genotypes of Almond and 'Tuono' Cultivar from the Viewpoint of Self-compatible Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics Fruit

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
asgar estaji
ali ebadi
mohammad reza fatahi moghadam
Mostafa Aali far
Abstract
Almond (Prunus dulcis [Webb] D.A. Mill) is an economically important species of genus Prunus.Self-incompatibility and low quality fruit are the most important limitative problems for fruit set and cropping in almond tree. In this study, 50 almond genotypes obtained from crossing between some superior self-incompatible local genotypes and 'Tuono' (self-compatible cultivar) were analyzed with fluorescence microscope method. Results showed that 11 genotypes were self-compatible, three genotypes were questionable and others were recognized as self-incompatible. To evaluate morphological diversity, twenty-two vegetative and generative characteristics were evaluated. Results indicated that all characteristics were significantly different among examined genotypes. Factor analysis divided genotypes into eight factors that covered 91.04from total variance. Results Factor analysis indicate characteristics such as: kernel wrinkles, nut size, kernel length, shell thickness, shell pattern and nut diameter had highest effect on genotypes diversity. Finally, genotypes 6, 15, 20, 25 and 46 were introduced as superior ones based on their nut weight and kernel characteristics. Genotype No. 15 and 25 was self-compatible in addition of having good fruit and nut characteristics. 
Keywords
Almond
self-compatible
fluorescence microscopy quantitative and qualitative traits
Factor analysis
Cluster analysis
Volume 6, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
September 2014
Pages 43-57