Evaluation of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) seedlings originated from North West ‎of Iran and preliminary selection of promising genotypes

Quince seedling genotypes are distributed in independent landraces in different parts of Iran. The selectection oftheir superior genotypes is possible for usingin some breeding programs. This research was performedto evaluate some quince genotypes of North West Iran and selection of superior genotype(s). Therefore, 13 genotypes from Ardabil and western regions of Guilan provinces,with cultivar `Esfahan` as control,were evaluated according to 55 traits of the National Guidelines ofDifferentiation, Unifirmity and Stability (DUS) Tests, and also organoleptic and yield traits. The results indicated some traits were distinct in growth habit, leaf, blossom and fruit in quince genotypes and in control cultivar. Dwarfing in AD6 and AD7 genotypes and late flowering in AD5, AD3 and PSH genotypes were considerable traits. Cluster analysis based on all traits, dividedthe genotypes in three clusters, in which the first was containg superior genotypes Givi, AS1, ASH, AD1 and control cultivar. In the second and third clusters, genotypes had lower values for selection. In the organoleptic evaluations, ASH, AD1, and AS1 were evaluated assuperior genotypes, so that both ASH and AS1 genotypes were considered for possibile use as fresh fruits, with higher organoleptic values than cultivar `Esfahan`. Givi, AD5 and AD6 genotypes with 28, 23 and 21 kg fruit per tree had the highest yield and yield efficiency. Based on all traits, Givi, AD1, ASH and AS1 genotypes were selected preliminarily for various purposes of breeding programs.