Morphological Diversity of some Iranian Local Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) Genotypes in Climatical Conditions of Karaj

Ten local hazelnut genotypes named Gerduii، Gercheh، Shastak، Payizeh، Mahali Karaj، Tabestaneh، Rasmi، Shirvani، Pashmineh and Gerde Eshkevarat were evaluated based on guidelines of Distinctness، Uniformity and Stability (DUS) during years 2008-2009 in Kamal-Shahr Research Station in Karaj. Three 16 years-old trees from each genotype were selected and 55 traits including 3 traits from trees، 3 from one-year-old shoots، 9 from leaves، 6 from flowers، 24 from fruits and 9 complementary traits including pests and diseases resistance were recorded. Fourteen quantitative traits (length، width، length × width، thickness of one-year-old shoot، length and width of petiole، length and dimensions of leaves، male flower length، fruit weight، length and diameter and percentage of kernels) were significantly different among genotypes. Based on four qualitative traits، all genotypes could be differentiated well. Regarding quantitative fruit traits، Gerduii was determined as a superior genotype having thin shells، large kernels، and easily separating shells from kernel and was a multipurpose genotype. Pashmine، Gerduii and Gerche had round fruits and were suitable pollinizers for other genotypes. This information could be used for hazelnut orchard establishment and breeding programs.