Preliminary assessment in genetic diversity of mature apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) genotypes grown under Kashan environment conditions

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is one of the important temperate horticultural crops in the world.
Iran is a rich country in the world for fruit tree germplasm and is known as one of the centers of origin for apricot with suitable and wide genetic diversity.
The most important areas for apricot culture in Iran are East and West Azarbayjan, Semnan, Abarkooh, and Abadeh in North of Fars Province, Kerman, Zanjan, Khorasan, and also Kashan in Isfahan.
The objective of the present research is to explore and evaluate the apricot germplasm populations that grow in the Barzook regions in Kashan, Isfahan, Iran.
The suitable climate conditions of this region created suitable environmental conditions for apricot culture with a wide range of traditional orchards.
To select the superior genotypes and cultivars within the apricot populations in the region, 390 own-rooted mature apricot tree seedlings were labeled along with 41 mature commercial apricot trees that were budded and grown on seedling rootstock.
Phenology, morphology, and pomology characters of labeled apricot trees evaluation were started with the assessments of flowering and fruiting characteristics based on the IPGRI and UPOV descriptors.
The labeled apricot trees showed start to bloom from late March to mid-April 2017. Most of the studied trees showed in a full bloom period for the first 10 days of April, so most of the trees’ flowering period was terminated in the first mid-April.
Also, the flowering and fruiting characteristics of the labeled trees were evaluated to select the superior genotypes and cultivars in the region for further breeding or commercial purpose.
In conclusion, the screening of the population showed some good and superior apricot genotypes in the Bartok, Kashan germplasm for either fresh or dried consumption.

I International Conference and X National Horticultural Science Congress of Iran (IrHC2017)

S. Fallah-Barzoki, K. Arzani, N. Bouzari

apricot germplasm, genetic diversity, flowering, fruiting

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1315.46