Genetic diversity of 23 indigenous almond (Prunus amygdalus) genotypes under North West Himalayan region of India

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the ICAR-Central Institute for Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar during 2013-2015 to evaluate twenty three almond genotypes for important horticultural traits to detect similarities among morphological, nut yield and quality parameters. Genotypes differed significantly for observed traits. The 18 variables were scored and subject to multivariate analysis. Results showed a considerable phenotypic diversity among almond genotypes. The cluster analysis classified genotypes into two major groups according to their potential characteristics. The biometric parameters indicated that maximum Trunk Cross Sectional Area (290.45 cm²) and plant height (5.10m) were recorded in CITH-Almond-19. Highest canopy volume (14.24m³) was recorded in CITH-Almond-22. Maximum flowers number (9315/tree), nut number (4656/tree) and kernel yield (2.75 kg/tree) were recorded in CITH-Almond-23. Highest productivity efficiency (65.91 g/cm² TCSA) was calculated in CITH-Almond-06. The nut weight (3.95g) was maximum in CITH-Almond-02. Kernel recovery above 40% was recorded in CITH-Almond-04, CITH-Almond-08, CITH-Almond-09, CITH-Almond-21, CITH-Almond-22 and CITH-Almond-33. The softness of shell were also observed in these genotypes and found to be semi hard to soft shell. The correlation coefficient among different characters was worked out in all possible combination. The positive correlation between nut yield and TCSA, plant height, canopy spread, canopy volume, flower numbers and fruit set in almond genotypes. The current results will be very useful for conservation of indigenous almond genotypes and formulating future breeding strategies in almond. Based on overall performance, it may be concluded that there was significant genetic diversity among selected almond genotypes for the selected horticultural traits. The genotype, viz. CITH-Almond-23, CITH-Almond-22, CITH-Almond-09, CITH-Almond-01, CITH-Almond-15, CITH-Almond-02 and CITH-Almond-19 and CITH-Almond-06 found to be superior in respect to nut quality under north western Himalayan region of India. These genotypes could be multiplied and distributed for performance evaluation under different temperate growing region of India for productivity enhancement besides utilization as parents for almond breeding programme for desirable traits.