Fruit Characteristics of some Wild Almonds in Iran

In this study 56 accessions of 17 wild almond species and varieties were compared and classified based on their nut and kernel characteristics. Ten quantitative and six qualitative traits of nut and kernel were recorded. Wild almond species showed a high diversity in mentioned characteristics. Prunus haussknechtii had the biggest and heaviest nut and kernel, while P. lycioides var. horrida produced the smallest nut. P. scoparia, P. spartioides and P. erioclada showed the lightest kernel color. Based on nut and kernel characteristics, wild genotypes were classified into two clusters. These two clusters agreed the two series Icosandrae and Dodecandrea, which have already been determined. The former serie contained species from Euamygdalus and Spartioides sections.