Morphological Characteristics, Protein Contents and Fatty Acids Composition of some Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Superior Genotypes in the North of Fars Province

High amound of unsaturated fatty acids in kernel, has made walnut as a strategic crop with high nutritional and medicial values in human nutrition. In the present study, carried out during years 2012 to 2015, morphological (in all years) and biochemical (in two years 2014 and 2015) characteristics of nine walnut genotypes which were selected as superior genotypes in former studied in Fars province, were investigated. Based on the results of morphological evaluations, these genotypes had high nut (13.20-19.36g) and kernel (7.13-9.52g) weight, kernel percentage (56.89-57.92%), lateral breeding (45.62-64.80%) and kernel color (light and extra light). Protein, oil and total phenol contents of kernel of the genotypes ranged from 12.58 to 19.13%, 54.83 to 70.72% and 43.26-56.63 mg GAE.g-1 DW extract, respectively. Palmitic (6.00-7.65%), stearic (1.72-3.41%), oleic (19.28-30.96%), linoleic (47.37-59.05) and linolenic (9.89-16.99%) acids were the predominant fatty acids in the walnut genotypes. Very small amount of arachidonic and erucic acids was also detected in some of the genotypes. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were significantly higher than monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Accordingly, the highest amounts of PUFA and MUFA were observed in genotypes FaEqNs5 and FaEqHm1, respectively, and genotype FaEqDm1 had the highest amount of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and the lowest level of unsaturated fatty acid (UFA).