Articles
GENETIC DIVERSITY FOR LATE FROST SPRING RESISTANCE IN ALMOND
Article number
912_54
Pages
371 – 375
Language
English
Abstract
Almond is one of the most important nut crops in Iran.
Due to the suitable climatic conditions, Iran is one of the most important growing centers for wild and domesticated species of almond in world.
Native genotypes typically are early flowering, and due to late spring frosts, they are often damaged.
Therefore, an almond breeding program (using selection and hybridization methods) has been started in 1998 for obtaining the superior varieties with traits such as late blooming, frost resistance, high yield, early bearing, and marketable value, early to harvest and peel.
In these studies 3 stages of late spring frost with low temperatures (-3.5°C in 14 march, -3°C in 1 April and -3°C 13 April 2009) occurred naturally. 340 almond genotypes from districts of Iran, 20 foreign (European and American) cultivars, 80 promising hybrids obtained from controlled crosses and 10 local commercial cultivars for selecting superior genotypes with desirable characteristics and outstanding cold resistance were evaluated.
In 2008, flowering in almond started from 14th March to 5th April but on 14th March late spring frost with temperature falling to -3.5°C occurred.
In this stage all early flowering almonds were damaged, but damage severity was different.
Again, on 1st April, late spring frost with temperature fall to -3°C occurred.
Also, in this stage all medium flowering almonds were damaged, and there was genetic diversity for cold resistance among genotypes and varieties of almond.
Finally, 13th April 2009, a late spring frost occurred with temperature falling to -3°C. At this stage, due to late frost not only almond, especially late flowering almonds but also flowers of other fruit crops such as peach were damaged in same location.
After evaluating the 340 almond selections, 80 promising hybrids, 20 commercial foreign cultivars and 10 local commercial cultivars based on flowering time, late spring frost resistance, and fruit set, they were divided into 4 groups: high cold resistance with high fruit set (4 promising hybrids); medium cold resistance with medium fruit set (Tuono, Supernova, Shahroud 7 and Sahand); low cold resistance with low fruit set (2 promising hybrids) and no cold resistance with no fruit set (340 almond genotypes, 76 selective hybrids, 17 commercial foreign cultivars especially Ferragnes, Nonpareil, Flip Ceo & so on). Also, it was found that one of the 4 promising hybrids with high late frost resistance and high fruit set was medium flowering.
Due to the suitable climatic conditions, Iran is one of the most important growing centers for wild and domesticated species of almond in world.
Native genotypes typically are early flowering, and due to late spring frosts, they are often damaged.
Therefore, an almond breeding program (using selection and hybridization methods) has been started in 1998 for obtaining the superior varieties with traits such as late blooming, frost resistance, high yield, early bearing, and marketable value, early to harvest and peel.
In these studies 3 stages of late spring frost with low temperatures (-3.5°C in 14 march, -3°C in 1 April and -3°C 13 April 2009) occurred naturally. 340 almond genotypes from districts of Iran, 20 foreign (European and American) cultivars, 80 promising hybrids obtained from controlled crosses and 10 local commercial cultivars for selecting superior genotypes with desirable characteristics and outstanding cold resistance were evaluated.
In 2008, flowering in almond started from 14th March to 5th April but on 14th March late spring frost with temperature falling to -3.5°C occurred.
In this stage all early flowering almonds were damaged, but damage severity was different.
Again, on 1st April, late spring frost with temperature fall to -3°C occurred.
Also, in this stage all medium flowering almonds were damaged, and there was genetic diversity for cold resistance among genotypes and varieties of almond.
Finally, 13th April 2009, a late spring frost occurred with temperature falling to -3°C. At this stage, due to late frost not only almond, especially late flowering almonds but also flowers of other fruit crops such as peach were damaged in same location.
After evaluating the 340 almond selections, 80 promising hybrids, 20 commercial foreign cultivars and 10 local commercial cultivars based on flowering time, late spring frost resistance, and fruit set, they were divided into 4 groups: high cold resistance with high fruit set (4 promising hybrids); medium cold resistance with medium fruit set (Tuono, Supernova, Shahroud 7 and Sahand); low cold resistance with low fruit set (2 promising hybrids) and no cold resistance with no fruit set (340 almond genotypes, 76 selective hybrids, 17 commercial foreign cultivars especially Ferragnes, Nonpareil, Flip Ceo & so on). Also, it was found that one of the 4 promising hybrids with high late frost resistance and high fruit set was medium flowering.
Authors
A. Imani, A. Mousavi, S. Biat, M. Rasouli, R. Tavakoli , S. Piri
Keywords
almond, late frost spring, genetic diversity
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