Physiological and Phenological Variability and Heritability of Some Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Cultivars and Genotypes

Evaluation of genetic diversity among apricot genotypes may increase our genetic knowledge and provide better plant materials for selection of desirable genotypes. In this study¡ genetic diversity of 26 apricot genotypes phenological and physiological traits of 26 apricot cultivars collected at Kurdistan agricultural research station was studied based on a randomized complete block design with three replications for phenological and physiological traits. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of genotype on flower initiation¡ flowering period¡ relative water content (RWC)¡ ion leakage¡ proline and potassium content of flower pistil tissue¡ spring frost damage to flowers¡ harvest date¡ total soluble solids¡ titratable Acidity (TA) and pH was significant at the 1% level. These results indicated that the existence of significant genetic variation among studied genotypes. The lowest heritability (28.5%) was belonged to date of 50% flowering¡ indicating the strong effect of environmental factors on this trait. The highest heritability (99%) estimated for related traits to yield including total soluble solids¡ fruit harvesting period and uniform rippening¡ suggested that the influence of environmental effects on these traits were very low.