Identification of Some Native and Foreign Apple Varieties Cultivated in Khorasan-e-Razavi Province Based on Qualitative, Quantitative Traits and Keywords

Recognition and identification of many native and foreign apples cultivars are not clear for researchers، students، and gardeners. Additionally، since there is not any descriptor available on this case، they have different local names and sometimes similar in Khorasan-e-Razavi province. This study aimed to evaluate physico-chemical and morphological traits to offer descriptor for identification some native and foreign apple varieties. Native varieties including Bijandi Akhlamad، Abdolmajidi، Golshahi Pish Ras، Compooti، Alimoori and foreign cultivars including Prime Rose، Red Spur، Fuji، Braebern، and Ingrid grafted on MM. 106 rootstock during two years (2010-2011) at Golestan garden in Chenaran، Mashhad. About 62 different qualitative and quantitative traits related to the tree properties، leaves، flowers and physico-chemical attributes of fruit were carried out in a completely randomized design with 10 replications. Results showed that the fruit shape of Prime Rose cultivar was flat، Red Spur was conical to globular، Bijandi Akhlamadi was globular and the other was flat globular. The shape of carpel in Alimoori and Prime Rose were completely open and in the others were closed. Data showed that the greatest variation between cultivars was at the traits such as blossom end depth، fruit firmness، skin thickness، fruit length، fruit diameter، seed length، leaf width، fruit acidity and pH. Correlation analysis showed that petiole length significantly correlated with leaf length to leaf width ratio (r=0. 74±0. 07) and fruit weight with fruit length (r=0. 96±0. 03) positively at 1% probability level.