CARPOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR UNIFORMITY WITHIN THE ‘TONDA DI GIFFONI’ HAZELNUT

‘Tonda di Giffoni’ is a round hazelnut among the most appreciated of Italian cultivars.
Plants from 29 clones selected from several farms of the ‘Monti Picentini’ producing area (Campania Region) have been grown without irrigation in an observation field at Pignataro Maggiore (province of Caserta), collecting bio-agronomic and carpological data since 2004. Molecular screening for 26 decamer primers (RAPD) was performed in 2007. Observations so far point to differences of some consistence among clones for phenology, yield and sucker number, but no detectable difference for molecular and carpological traits, apart from shell thickness.
Male and female flowering were close in time and positively correlated, with about one week difference.
Plant size did not greatly influence sucker number.
Fruit yield was weakly related to plant size.
Except for three clones with lower attacks, all others were susceptible to mites.
Kernel weight was fairly correlated with fruit weight and volume.
Shelled yield tended to decrease with the increase of fruit weight and volume.
All clones produced nuts without fibre.
Given the homogeneity of carpological traits and the reliability of differences for yield and sucker number, further selection could be based on these traits.

VII International Congress on Hazelnut

M. Petriccione, A. De Luca, L.F. Ciarmiello, P. Piccirillo

hazelnut, clonal selection, carpological traits, RAPD

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.845.23