Articles
Suitability of hazelnut cultivars for growing in the spindle system in central Germany, their nutrient composition, and hazelnut weevil infestation
Article number
1457_28
Pages
217 – 224
Language
English
Abstract
Germany is a large consumer of hazelnuts, which are mostly imported from other countries.
Currently, 520 ha of hazelnuts are grown in Germany, representing 1.1% of the total tree fruit area.
However, little is known about suitable cultivars, planting systems, and best management practices.
Therefore, the yield performance of spindle-trained hazelnut trees of different cultivars, either self-rooted or grafted on Corylus colurna L., was evaluated in two trials in the Central German federal state of Thuringia.
Full yield was reached in the 6th and 8th years after planting in self-rooted and grafted hazelnut trees, respectively.
After reaching maturity, the average yield was 2.2 t ha‑1 in self-rooted trees.
In the ongoing trial with grafted trees, average yields of 1.4 t ha‑1 were realized from the 4th year after planting.
In both trials, considerable fluctuation in yield between years and cultivars was found with ‘Barcelloner Zellernuss’, ‘Emoa 1’, and ‘Webb’s price cobb’ as the highest yielding cultivars.
However, the highest fruit mass was found in ‘Merveille de Bollwiller’ (4.0 g) and ‘Corabel’ (3.8 g). Total fat, protein, and fiber content were analyzed in 2020-2022 in ‘Corabel’, ‘Ennis’, ‘Merveille de Bollwiller’, and ‘Webb’s Price Cobb’. Variability in nutrient composition occurred between cultivars and years, with total fat content ranging from 51 to 61%, total protein content from 11 to 23%, and total fiber content from 15 to 28%. Hazelnut weevil (Curculio nucum L.) infestation, recorded in nine cultivars in 2021 and 2022, also showed differences among cultivars and years, with the highest infestations in ‘Emoa 1’ and ‘Corabel’ in 2022, resulting in more than 40 and 25% damage, respectively.
The experimental data show that several hazelnut cultivars are suitable for cultivation in Central Germany.
Therefore, hazelnuts can be a valuable source of fat, protein, and fiber in a healthy diet that can be locally produced in this region.
Without control of the hazelnut weevil, however, high damage to the nuts is expected when the production area increases.
Currently, 520 ha of hazelnuts are grown in Germany, representing 1.1% of the total tree fruit area.
However, little is known about suitable cultivars, planting systems, and best management practices.
Therefore, the yield performance of spindle-trained hazelnut trees of different cultivars, either self-rooted or grafted on Corylus colurna L., was evaluated in two trials in the Central German federal state of Thuringia.
Full yield was reached in the 6th and 8th years after planting in self-rooted and grafted hazelnut trees, respectively.
After reaching maturity, the average yield was 2.2 t ha‑1 in self-rooted trees.
In the ongoing trial with grafted trees, average yields of 1.4 t ha‑1 were realized from the 4th year after planting.
In both trials, considerable fluctuation in yield between years and cultivars was found with ‘Barcelloner Zellernuss’, ‘Emoa 1’, and ‘Webb’s price cobb’ as the highest yielding cultivars.
However, the highest fruit mass was found in ‘Merveille de Bollwiller’ (4.0 g) and ‘Corabel’ (3.8 g). Total fat, protein, and fiber content were analyzed in 2020-2022 in ‘Corabel’, ‘Ennis’, ‘Merveille de Bollwiller’, and ‘Webb’s Price Cobb’. Variability in nutrient composition occurred between cultivars and years, with total fat content ranging from 51 to 61%, total protein content from 11 to 23%, and total fiber content from 15 to 28%. Hazelnut weevil (Curculio nucum L.) infestation, recorded in nine cultivars in 2021 and 2022, also showed differences among cultivars and years, with the highest infestations in ‘Emoa 1’ and ‘Corabel’ in 2022, resulting in more than 40 and 25% damage, respectively.
The experimental data show that several hazelnut cultivars are suitable for cultivation in Central Germany.
Therefore, hazelnuts can be a valuable source of fat, protein, and fiber in a healthy diet that can be locally produced in this region.
Without control of the hazelnut weevil, however, high damage to the nuts is expected when the production area increases.
Publication
Authors
M. Penzel, C. Dawczynski, S. Lorkowski, N. Riemer
Keywords
Corylus avellana L., Corylus colurna L., fruit mass, hazelnut weevil (Curculio nucum L.), nut quality, rootstock
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