Evaluation of Quantitative and Quality Characteristics in Some Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) Varieties in Karaj Climatic Conditions

To evaluate quantitative and quality charecteristics in eight hazelnut varieties; Fertile, Pashmineh, Rasmi, Gorjeh, Round, Negret and Gerdouee, morphological and chemical characteristics were used. This experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design with three replications in Horticultural Research Field Station, Kamal-Shahr, Karaj, Iran, in 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. Twenty one characteristics including: vegetative growth, trunk diameter, number of suckers, canopy diameter, length and width of leaf, length of internode, weight, length and breadth of fruit, fruit (%), kernel (%), fat (%), protein (%), total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and chlorophull a/b were measured and recorded. Analysis of variance showed that there was significant differences among hazelnut varieties for all measured traits. Fertile was superior for quantative and quality characteristics as compared with other varieties. Cluster analysis grouped the hazelnut varieties into three groups and one single variety, i.e., Fertile. Results of this research indicated that morphological characteristics are suitable for identification and evaluation of genotypes/varieties of hazelnut.