Journal of Nuts
Volume:12 Issue: 2, Spring 2021

Diversity is an essential issue for fruit crop breeding programs and improving selection efficiency. This study was targeted to investigate the genetic diversity and heritability of fruit parameters and oil content in almond progenies and their parents. The results exhibited notable genetic variation among the studied progenies and their parents. The highest phenotypic and genotypic variance coefficients were 13.05 and 11.18 for fruit length in in different genotypes, respectively. Also the highest broad sense heritability belonged to nut weight of genotype (0 and 89%). The lowest phenotypic and genotypic variance coefficients was 0.19 and 0.15, respectively, which was observed in kernel weight and the lowest broad sense heritability belonged to fruit thickness (68%). For oil content, which is important for qualitative improvement in breeding programs, there was a significant difference between examined progenies and their parents. Finally, in this study, it was found that some of the progenies were high in oil, for example, the hybrid A11-18 had 63.97% of oil that could be used in almond development programs.

In recent decades, spring frost considered a serious threat in pistachio production (Pistacia vera). Considering that, Iran is one of the most important centers of pistachio production and has the highest variety of pistachios in the world, the identification of domestic and wild different rootstocks and their crosses to reach cold-tolerant rootstocks could be one of the effective solutions to face the challenge of spring frost. In this study, cold tolerance was assessed in fourteen rootstocks of pistachio domestic species (Badami Zarand, Sarakhs and Qazvini), interspecific hybrids (Qazvini×Khinjuk, Qazvini×Mutica, Qazvini × Baneh Baghi, Qazvini × Atlantica, Qazvini× Integerrima), non-domesticated species (Atlantica (P. atlantica), Integerrima, Khinjuk, Sarakhs, Mutica (P. atlantica sub. mutica) and Baneh Baghi (P. mutica × P. vera)) and UCB1 hybrid rootstock at low temperatures (4, 0 and -4 °C) for 2 hours. This experiment was conducted in a factorial completely randomized design with three replications on one-year-old seedlings in greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the rate of ion leakage, malondialdehyde and injury index percentage was significant (p <0.01) and their values were decreased in the cold-tolerant rootstocks than the cold-sensitive rootstocks. The interaction between treatments showed that the temperature of - 4 °C caused a significant reduction in ion leakage and malondialdehyde in the cold-tolerant rootstocks. Proline was increased in the cold-tolerant rootstocks compare to cold-sensitive rootstocks. The results of cation leakage percentage were significant in temperature and rootstocks (p <0.01). The results showed that the highest percentage of cation leakage related to potassium and there was a positive and significant correlation between calcium and magnesium and cell membrane stability. According to the results, the most sensitive rootstock was UCB1, Integerrima, Khinjuk and Baneh Baghi, respectively. Hybrids Qazvini , Baneh Baghi, Khinjuk and Integerrima rootstocks were significantly reduced under low-temperature stress. Mutica, Qazvini×Mutica, Sarakhs, Qazvini, Qazvini×Atlantica rootstocks, improved physiological and biochemical traits and maintained cell membrane integrity and finally showed greater tolerance to frost and freezing temperatures, which can be considered in the breeding program.

This work systematically addresses the chemical composition, use, production and consumption of walnuts. The protein amino acid composition, fatty acid composition and vitamin contents of walnut kernel was analyzed. It was shown that walnut oils may be used to treat inflammatory processes and ulcers of the stomach and intestines and its therapeutic effect is associated with the presence of linoleic acid. The kernel cake remaining after the extraction of the oil contains a great deal of protein with high levels of essential amino acids. A delicious, useful and nutritious halva can be prepared from kernel cake. The kernel can also be used in the confectionery industry for the production of fillings for sweets, cakes, and chocolate. The review also describes the dynamics of walnut production, in the USA, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, China, India, Brazil, Chile and the countries of the European Union as the largest producers. It also discusses that in Uzbekistan, walnuts were historically collected on farm plots as natural walnut forests, small plantations and household plots, but now there is an increased interest in improving walnut crops using the achievements of science and technology, as well as agrotechnical methods of cultivation. Using the work of scientists at the Uzbek Research Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and Wine making the volume of production of this valuable product will increase in near future.

This study carried out to evaluate variations and relationships of nut size, seedling morphological attributes and habitat climatic parameters in of Prunus scoparia (Spach) C. K. Schneid populations in comparison to three other almond species. A total of 10 populations including seven populations of P. scoparia and three of other almond species including P. elaeagnifolia Spach., P. eburnea Spach., and P. dulcis Mill. were raised from seeds in greenhouse condition. Results showed noticeable variations in the studied seedlings characteristics within and among the populations. Among P. scoparia, Nourabad, Shiraz and Lordegan populations were superior to other populations in most of the measured traits. Useful correlations were observed between nut and seedling traits, among them, the highest correlation (r = 0.89) was between nut weight and leaf width. Altitude and annual precipitation correlated positively with some of the nut and seedling characteristics (ranging from r = 0.13 to r = 0.33). Based on principal components analysis (PCA), the first three components explained 76.2 % of the total variation of morphological characteristics. Using cluster analysis as well as a bi-plot of PCA, the genotypes classified into two main clusters of wild and domesticated populations. The main cluster of the wild populations divided into three sub-clusters based on their botanical categorization, whilst P. scoparia populations clustered based on geographic proximity and climate similarity. Results may have important implications for managing these genetic resources as well as their use in future breeding programs especially for the development of new rootstocks for almond and stone fruits.

Knowledge management and benefiting from the experiences and knowledge experts in Iranian Pistachio farming will be a method in order to achieve the development of Agriculture and Pistachio gardening in Iran. The present study is based on a qualitative approach and grounded method theory. The research tool was based on interview with 22 members of the Rafsanjan Pistachio Producers Cooperative, and was conducted in three criteria of open (initial), core and selective. Open code includes 34 concepts and core code includes 4 major categories, including cost reduction, product quality enhancement, innovation and continuous improvement. Agricultural development was identified as the central criterion of the present study. In order to understand the experiences of growers in their own language, semi-structured interviews were conducted to provide solutions to develop pistachio agriculture and create a competitive situation. Thus, the interviews begin with general questions and are followed by the solutions of each grower. The interview questions are designed to transfer technical knowledge of the interviewees and achieve solutions in order to benefit from knowledge management in the development of pistachio agriculture in Iran. The findings of this study helps the presentation of strategies to develop agriculture and maintain the position of Iranian pistachio growers in competitive markets that will lead to greater profits. According to our research, establishing a powerful cooperative system could satisfy growers’ requirements and will lead to an expansion of agriculture in Iran. Additionally, our system could result into establish a more proactive farming society using knowledge management.

Frost injury is a very widespread phenomenon occurring in both deciduous and ever-green trees such as pistachio. The cold hardiness levels of four cultivars of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.), ‘Kalle-Ghuchi’, ‘Owhadi’, ‘Ahmad-Aghaei’ and ‘Akbari’ were determined.  Samples were collected from November 2007 to March 2008 and from November 2008 to March 2009, with three week intervals during dormant season. Then, single- bud cutting sections were placed in incubator and subjected to temperature, +5 (control), -10, -15, -20, -25 and -30оC, held for 24h at each temperature. The critical temperature for survival among the 4 cultivars was -15оC and more than 70% of the buds of all cultivars were killed once they were subjected to -30оC. All cultivars achieved a maximum cold hardiness in December and January. These four cultivars were classified as hardy (‘Akbari’), semi-hardy (‘Owhadi’ and ‘Ahmad-Aghaei’) and sensitive (‘Kalle-Ghuchi’). The tested pistachio cultivars exhibited higher cold hardiness levels in ‘OFF’ trees, rather than ‘ON’ trees.