Adaptability of some Local and Introduced Cultivars of Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) in Alamout Conditions

Hazelnut is one of the important economical products of Iran which due to high environmental variation of the country, its cultivation could be extended. In this research, the adaptibility of eight local and imported hazelnut cultivar including Fertile de Coutard, Rond de Pimont, Negret, Rasmai, Shastak 2, Pashmineh 89, Gercheh and Gerdoe 89 was studied in Alamout of Qazine. The plants were cultured at 4×4 meter distance in 1989 in Ornamental Plants Research Station of Alamout and their vegetative and reproductive characteristics were studied during years 2011 and 2012. Results indicated that the fruit set date was earlier in cultivars Pashmineh 89, Gercheh, Negret and Gerdoe 89. Tree yield, number of suckers and oil percentage differed in cultivars and the highest yield was produced by Pashminh 89, Gercheh and Gerdoe 89 (3.58, 3.34 and 3.00 Kg/tree, respectively) and the lowest by cultivar Fertile de Coutard (0.36 kg/tree). The lowest oil percentage was recorded in Fertile de Coutard (57.06%) and the highest in Rond di Pimont and Negret (66.80% and 66.77%, respectively) cultivars. Based on the result, among local cultivars, Gerdoe 89, Pashmineh 89 and Gercheh and among introcuced cultivars, Negret were recognized as the most adaptable cultivars and Rasmi was the best pollinizer for Alamout area. Cultivars Rond de Pimont and Shastak 2 exhibited moderate adaptability and Fertile de Coutard did not show a suitable adaptability in Alamout condition.