Phenotypic characterisation of almond accessions collected in Afghanistan

Abstract

Almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb] accessions of Afghanistan have been surveyed, propagated, and grown in ex situ collections. Trees, leaves, flowers, and fruits were characterised following standardized procedures taking into account 48 phenotypic traits. The National Collection of Varieties of Almonds of Afghanistan showed a significant variability in terms of morphological traits, with a predominance of early flowering time accessions. Among the 56 accessions, Sattarbai, a unique group of cultivar typology characterized by crescent dry fruit, soft and thin "paper shell"  and high kernel/dry fruit weight ratio (>0.65) was clearly represented by Cluster Analysis. Other accessions resulted closer to the international cultivars Lauranne, Carmel, Ferraduel and Ferragnes, considered as reference.