Journal of Nuts
Volume:3 Issue: 1, Winter-Spring 2012

Study the effect of fruit cultivar (intact, early split, irregular crack) on (Akbari, Abbasali, Khanjari) cultivars in Damghan city to Aspergillus Flavus fungus and effect of harvest time in early split pistachio in 1389, sampling from orchards has been performed. Samples after grinding by dilute cultivating in a specific AFPA medium bottles in a completely randomized model were three times recultivated. Colonies of A. flavus after3 to 7 days, were isolated, identified and counted. The results of Duncan grouping were analyzed by SAS software. Results of that study of contamination of samples to A. Flavus fungal Showed The contamination of the samples to the fungus A Flavus differ from each other, there is less contamination in the Khanjari cultivar and more contamination in Akbari cultivar. With delay in the harvest time, percentage of intact fruits and without front skin cracking decrease. The lowest percentage of early split (0 first) was at first harvesting time (Shahrivar 10) in Akbari cultivar and the highest percentage of early split (Shahrivar 20) in the the second harvest time in the Akbari cultivar.

Edible nuts have an increasing role in human diet. Pistachio is popular but less known kind of edible nut nevertheless it is rich in health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins. This research focused on the concentration of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca), all of which play a key role in the healthy human nutrition and lifestyle in the kernels of various cultivars and several samples, including “Ahmedaghaii”, “Akbari”(2 different phenotypes), “Sefid”, “Momtaz” “Kallehghuchi” (3 different phenotype), “Ohadi (3 different phenotypes), “Garmeh” “Daneshmandi”, and “Badami zarand” which are most important commercially cultivated pistachio in Iran, also wild pistachios such as Pistacia atlantica, Sub sp. mutica Desf. (Baneh), P. vera variety “Sarakhs” and chance seedling as “Non-grafted trees. The amounts of the nutrient elements as well as protein content in 100 g kernel were eliminated. Protein content for examined cultivars varied form 13.75-28.13 gr/100gr, as well as N: 2.2-4.5 gr/100gr, P: 350-550 mg/100gr, K: 500-1100 mg/100gr and Ca: 40-135 mg/100gr. The results revealed wide variation in mineral content among different species and cultivars. In addition to, the results provided important data on the concentration of some major elements, emphasizing that pistachio kernel can be used as a good source of major elements as huge quantity of kernels produced and disposed in pistachio processing terminals.

Leaves from in vitro proliferating shoots of cvs. Chandler and Hartley of Persian walnut were cultured on MS and NN media supplemented with BA and NAA. Three light conditions including darkness, low light intensity and modified light intensity were used. Most of the calli were friable and non embryonic in all three conditions. Rate of callogenesis depended on cultivar, culture medium, light conditions, and interaction between them. In the sixth week, all individual effects and interaction effects were significant and the highest rate of callogenesis were achieved from cv. Hartley on NN medium in the darkness and low light intensity conditions and the lowest one was in cv. Chandler on MS medium in the low light intensity and on NN medium in the modified light intensity conditions. However, in the tenth week, just individual effects of cultivars, light conditions, and media were significant and rate of callogenesis in Hartley, NN medium and dark conditions were more than Chandler, MS medium and other light conditions. Three months after culturing of leaf explant on plant-growth-regulator-free media, gradually, frequency of callogenesis decreased. Browning of explants and calli was more in the MS media, cv. Chandler and darkness or low light intensity conditions. At the end of five months after initial culture, no embryo was formed from these calli.

The die-back of pistachio is one of the most important diseases affecting pistachio trees reducing yield production. In commercial fields, sampling was done from nine different pistachio production areas in Mahvelat, Khorasan Razavi province during 2008-2010. In each orchard, samples were taken from tree branches with canker during spring and summer seasons. Fungal species were identified based on the micro and macromorphological features, reverse and surface characters of colonies. The ability of the isolates to produce disease was assessed on two year-old pistachio branches. The effect of Mancozeb, Benomyl, Metalaxyl, Rovral TS, Bordeaux mixture and Propiconazole was evaluated on radial mycelia growth of P. variotii, N. mangiferae and Stemphylium spp.. In most orchards, the samples were positive for fungal species and in only a few orchards no fungal isolates could be detected. Based on micro and macro- morphological features; P. variotii, N. mangiferae, and Stemphylium spp. were identified in most sampling areas with different frequencies. In pathogenicity tests, most isolates of N. mangiferae and Stemphylium spp. were able to establish disease, while about 43 % of P. variotii isolates produced die-back on inoculated branches. The results of fungicides produce different levels of control on mycelia growth of fungal species which was varied according to the kind of fungicide and fungal species. Overall, the differences between fungal isolates, biotic and a biotic factors to produce disease as well as contradictory results were obtained by different researchers as described in literature.

Frost damage to the flowers and early developing fruits is one of the most limiting factors in the most almond cultivation regions of the world. This study was undertaken to help understand almond response to frost spring at same phenological stage, in order to develop criteria for the selection of cultivars with improved resistance to frost on the basis of field and laboratory experiments. In general, in this study, K-12-6, Ferragnes, Tuono and K-16-25 were negatively affected by frost at same popcorn and flowering stages in field test and laboratory constitutions. Experiment laboratory test showed, the four cultivar and selection suffering a greater frost damage rate at flowering at- 3.2° C (100%, 100%, 58 and 45% for K-12-6, Ferragnes, Tuono and K-16-25 respectively) compared with the balloon stage at- 6.40C (100%,100%,85% and 58% for K-12-6, Ferragnes, Tuono and K-16-25 respectively). Up to -3.1° C there was no damage at the balloon stage, where as in anthesis there was strict damage in four late flowering almond cultivars and selections at -3.2° C. Also, Results showed that the severity of frost damage was influenced by genotypes of almond. Genotypes that had the more resistant to frost damage had higher amount proline content. It is suggested that the content proline may serve as indicator of frost tolerance in almond breeding material.

Almond oil is used in many cosmetic products and as a snack in confectionery (marzipan, "turrón", nougat), food products (almond milk, ice cream, chocolate), culinary recipes and also cosmetic base. Seeds of 18 almond genotypes and cultivars: Azar, Rabie, A200, Shahroud13, Zodgol2, A230, Tuono, Shahrekord1, Shahroud 21, Najafabad, Nonpareil, Zodgol1, Yalda, K12-8, Supernova, Shekofeh, Sahand and Sefied were obtained from research station of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute of Karaj and then analyzed for oil content in 2008 and 2011. 10 almond kernels from each genotype and cultivar of almond with 3 replications were examined individually. Oil extraction methyl esters were done in one step. Results showed significant variation between genotypes and cultivars and some degree of different years. Oil content varied from 58.8% to 43.85% of the total kernel dry weight. According to these results, almond genotypes and cultivars based on oil content were divided in four groups: high (55-60%), good (50-55%), medium (45-50%) and poor (less than 45%).

The effect of four water salinity levels (0.75, 5, 10 and 15 dS.m-1) on growth indices and physiological parameters in some wild pistachio (P. atlantica, P. atlantica subsp. kurdica, P. atlantica subsp. mutica and P. atlantica subsp. cabulica) were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Leaf dry weight was reduced to about 30-54% at ECw 10 dS.m-1. Chemical analysis of shoot and root indicated that the concentration and distribution of Na+, K+ and Ca2+ in pistachio rootstocks were affected by salinity. The concentrations of Na+ and K+ increased in shoot with a rise in water salinity level. Comparison between Na+ concentration of shoot and root showed that all rootstocks limited the Na+ transportation to shoot tissue up-to 15 dS m -1, and retained it in the roots. However, this ability was weaker in Kurdica rootstock. Leaf area was affected by salinity, expect in Atlantica. The maximum of leaf area and chlorophyll index were observed in Atlantica rootstock. In Atlantica, leaf area and chlorophyll index were decreased 15.76% and 12.56% at 15 dS. m-1 compare to control respectively, whereas those were 19.95% and 19.08% in Mutica. Relative water content of leaves (RWC) was decreased in all rootstocks at solution 4 (15 dS. m-1). The rootstocks were differed considering to stomata resistance of leaves response to salinity, so that; it was gradually increased in Atlantica and Cabulica rootstocks, while those were non-consistent in Kurdica and Mutica. Based on measured parameters Atlantica and Kurdica could be considered as tolerant and sensitive pistachio rootstocks to water salinity, respectively.

The aim of this research was to study 33 Pistachio accessions and determine their genetic relationships. Thirty-one morphological characters (17 quantitative and 14 qualitative) together with Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker data were used for this purpose. Factor analysis was used to determine the effective characteristics and the number of main factors which determined seven main factors. Grouping of pistachio accessions by these factors was performed by Ward’s method. Among 77 random decamer primers tested, 12 showed good amplification and polymorphism, and a total of 130 markers were produced that 118 were polymorphism. Grouping by morphological characteristics was compared with the results from RAPD analysis which did not produce a significant correlation.