Articles
PERFORMANCE OF ALMOND (PRUNUS AMYGDALUS BATSCH.) SELECTIONS IN THE SUBTROPICS
Article number
279_22
Pages
199 – 208
Language
Abstract
Almond (Prunus amygdalus Batsch.), primarily a fruit species of temperate regions has two distinct features which have been exploited by the breeders for its cultivation in the subtropical environments.
First is, its low chilling requirement (250–400 hrs. at or below 7°C) is often easily met within the subtropics and secondly, early spring frosts (almost non-existent in the subtropics) are detrimental to blooms due to its early flowering habit in the spring.
Still, it is felt that temperate zone fruits when grown under the subtropical conditions, often have reduced growth and yield potential.
This emphasizes the need to evaluate the existing germplasm and proper cultivar selection is needed to obtain genotypes most compatible with these subtropical climates.
Thus, a study was undertaken to assess the performance of almond collections made from the temperate valley of Jammu and Kashmir (located at 32°–44’N latitude and 74°–54’E longitude) presently growing under the subtropical conditions of Ludhiana (situated at 30°–56’N latitude and 75°–52’E longitude). Observations were recorded for a total of 63 individual traits (vegetative, flowering, nut and kernel quality) on 29 almond selections and a check, Hybrid-15 (Thin-Shelled x Sloh), a local variety (12 year-old trees). An index scoring procedure was adopted to evaluate the overall performance.
The results have indicated that not even a single selection can be considered best for all the characters studied.
Only six selections had higher overall score than the check.
Out of the lot, JKS-288, JKS-287 and JKS-280 seem to be the best for overall production and marketing value.
It is suggested that JKS-55, JKS-65 and JKS-235 should be further manipulated to breed high yielding cultivars, while JKS-270, JKS-189 and JKS-266 for better nut, kernel and quality traits.
In conclusion, it can be said that since none of the selections is best for all the characters, each character or at least each broad category of characters should be considered separately in the future almond breeding programme to develop high yielding varieties with good kernel quality trails.
First is, its low chilling requirement (250–400 hrs. at or below 7°C) is often easily met within the subtropics and secondly, early spring frosts (almost non-existent in the subtropics) are detrimental to blooms due to its early flowering habit in the spring.
Still, it is felt that temperate zone fruits when grown under the subtropical conditions, often have reduced growth and yield potential.
This emphasizes the need to evaluate the existing germplasm and proper cultivar selection is needed to obtain genotypes most compatible with these subtropical climates.
Thus, a study was undertaken to assess the performance of almond collections made from the temperate valley of Jammu and Kashmir (located at 32°–44’N latitude and 74°–54’E longitude) presently growing under the subtropical conditions of Ludhiana (situated at 30°–56’N latitude and 75°–52’E longitude). Observations were recorded for a total of 63 individual traits (vegetative, flowering, nut and kernel quality) on 29 almond selections and a check, Hybrid-15 (Thin-Shelled x Sloh), a local variety (12 year-old trees). An index scoring procedure was adopted to evaluate the overall performance.
The results have indicated that not even a single selection can be considered best for all the characters studied.
Only six selections had higher overall score than the check.
Out of the lot, JKS-288, JKS-287 and JKS-280 seem to be the best for overall production and marketing value.
It is suggested that JKS-55, JKS-65 and JKS-235 should be further manipulated to breed high yielding cultivars, while JKS-270, JKS-189 and JKS-266 for better nut, kernel and quality traits.
In conclusion, it can be said that since none of the selections is best for all the characters, each character or at least each broad category of characters should be considered separately in the future almond breeding programme to develop high yielding varieties with good kernel quality trails.
Authors
K. Kumar, D.K. Uppal
Keywords
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