Release of New Cultivar: Pashmineh 89, A New Hazelnut Cultivar Suitable as Pollinizer for Hazelnut Cultivars

Self pollinated cultivars of hazelnut are limited mainly due to dichogamy and self- incompability. To enhance productivity of hazelnut orchards, identification and selection of suitable polinizers are necessary. To meet this quest, collection and evaluation of Iranian hazelnut germplasm have began by Department of Horticulture Research, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Iran, since 1994. Hazelnut germplasm were collected from Ardabil, Guilan, Ghazvin, West Azarbayjan and East Azarbayjan provinces. In the first phase 17 superior genotypes were selected, planted and evaluated in Kamalshahr in Karaj and Astara hazelnut field stations. Results showed that Pashmineh 89 was the best pollinizer for all of the hazelnut varieties. Pashmineh 89 is early for leaf appearance, medium for opening of male flowers and early for opening of female flowers. It has long pollen shading period which coincides with the opening of female flowers in most of hazelnut varieties grown in Iran including; Fertile, Round, Segurb; Shastak 2, Negret and Gerdooei 89. Evaluation of pollen compatibility showed that Pashmineh 89 produces long live pollen grains with high rate of germination (94%) and is compatible with the females of tested varieties. Therefore, Pashmineh 89 is released as a suitable pollinizer for hazelnut varieties grown in Iran. It has leaves of ovate shape and are pubscent. Fruits are globular, brown and slightly acute at the tip. Average weight of fruit is 2.32 g, average weight of kernel is 1.14 g, kernel (%) is 49.1, kernel oil content (%) is 69 and kernel protein content (%) is 13.35. The average yield of this cultivar is 1000 Kg ha-1. Fruits ripe in late August. Pashmineh 89 is tolerant to cold and drought.