Evaluation of Quantitative, Qualitative, and Biochemical Traits of Almond Offspring from Controlled Reciprocal Crosses Between ‘Mamaei’ and ‘Marcona’ Cultivars

• Published in: Erwerbsobstbau 2023-10, Vol.65 (5), p.1525-1543
• Main Authors: Zahedi, Mahrokh, Rasouli, Mousa, Imani, Ali, Khademi, Orang, Jari, Sepideh Kalate
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biochemical characteristics; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbohydrates; Cluster analysis; Coefficient of variation; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Cultivars; Euclidean geometry; Genetic crosses; Genotypes; Kernels; Life Sciences; Morphology; Nuts; Offspring; Original Article; Originalbeitrag; Plant breeding; Plant Sciences; Principal components analysis; Proteins; Taste; Thickness; Vitamin E; Weight
• ISSN: 0014-0309; 1439-0302
• DOI: 10.1007/s10341-023-00900-0

A total of 60 offspring obtained from controlled reciprocal crosses of ‘Mamaei’ and ‘Marcona’ cultivars of almond along with parents were evaluated using 31 morphological and biochemical traits of the nut and kernel. According to the results, attribute values such as shell weight (1.39–5.68 g), shell retention (0–5 codes), nut weight (2.16–7.60 g), kernel weight (0.35–2.51 g), and double kernel percentage (0–60%) were variable. These traits showed a high coefficient of variation. Also, the values of biochemical characteristics and compounds of kernel include protein (14.54–25.16%), ash (1.79–4.69%), oil percentage (47.93–62.94%), soluble carbohydrates (0.64–4.65%), insoluble carbohydrate (3.30–7.13%), and vitamin E content (71–220 mg · 100 g −1 FW) were variable in the offspring and parents. Simple correlation coefficients between traits showed a significant positive or negative correlation between some measured characteristics related to the nut, kernel, and biochemical characteristics. The principal component analysis (PCA) reduced the evaluated traits to 10 main factors that explained 74.45% of the total variance. The nut and kernel traits greatly affected the differentiation of cultivars and genotypes. Cluster analysis at 25 Euclidean distances divided cultivars and offspring into two main groups. Attributes such as nut length, width, and shape, as well as protein content and kernel taste, effectively differentiated the parents and progenies. By reducing the Euclidean distance, cultivars and offspring were divided into four main groups. Among the important factors for separating the main clusters were traits such as the length, width, and thickness of nut, as well as the weight, length, width, size, and taste of kernel and shell thickness. Finally, 16 offspring, including ‘MarM2’, ‘MarM4’, ‘MarM5’, ‘MarM6’, ‘MarM8’, ‘MarM10’, ‘MarM17’, ‘MMar2’, ‘MMar6’, ‘MMar7’, ‘MMar15’, ‘MMar24’, ‘MMar25’, ‘MMar27’, ‘MMar28’, and ‘MMar33’ with parents ‘Mamaei’ and ‘Marcona’ cultivars, showed relative superiority over other offspring in terms of morphological and biochemical traits. The identified superior offspring, which were even superior to the parents in some important almond breeding traits, are good candidates for use in almond breeding programs to achieve improved cultivars.