Morphological and Pomological Characteristics of some Native Apricot Cultivars and Genotypes of Iran

The present study was carried out to compare, categorize and select the superior genotypes of apricot among 32 native cultivars and genotypes collected in Kamalshahr Collection Garden, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran. Twenty one morphological characteristics in each genotype were evaluated during two years (2008 and 2009) using UPOV descriptor. Based on the results of analysis of variance, all characteristics were significant indicating a vast variability among the genotypes. Results of the simple correlation analysis showed significant positive or negative correlations among some important traits. The highest correlation was detected between fruit lateral width and fruit height. Factor analysis was used to define the determinat factors and traits constituted in each factor. Mean comparison of traits showed that Hessgoli and Shahroud 58 genotypes had the highest and genotype Tabazeye Marand had the lowest weight of ten fruits. Cluster analysis on twenty important factors divided genotypes into two main groups in the distance of 25. The smaller group consisted of four genotypes Shahroudi 32, Shahroudi 13, Naderye Karaj and Karaj Nouri. Generally, the results of this study showed that assessment of morphological and pomological characteristic can differentiate apricot genotypes well and bring the similar genotypes in one group.