Evaluating of Morphological and Phenological Diversity of Some Promising Genotypes of Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) in Traditional Orchard of Qazvin

علوم باغبانی

Article 9, Volume 39, Issue 3, September 2025, Pages 503-489   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/jhs.2025.90560.1388

Authors

P. Kakvand¹; A. Soleimani^{* 1}; F. Razavi¹; G. Brar²

¹Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran

²Plant Science Faculty, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jordan

Abstract

Introduction
Pistachio is one of Iran's main horticultural products, known for its high nutritional and economic value. The evaluation and identification of genetic diversity are crucial for breeding programs and the introduction of promising pistachio cultivars. Selecting seedlings obtained from pistachio tree crossings based on desirable traits can significantly impact the pistachio production industry. Evaluating genetic diversity based on pomological and morphological characteristics is a fast and effective method for identifying suitable pistachio genotypes. The traditional orchard of Qazvin, with a history spanning over a thousand years and covering an area of 2,780 hectares, now extends across the southern, western, and eastern halves of the city. In recent years, pistachio planting in the Qazvin orchard has commonly been done through seeds, leading to the development of diverse, and sometimes highly valuable, mother genotypes in this ancient orchard. Identifying and evaluating suitable maternal genotypes for cultivation expansion or the replacement of unsuitable trees is one of the goals of sustainable orchard development in the Baghestan region. The aim of this research is to identify and evaluate the morphological and pomological characteristics of 24 promising maternal pistachio genotypes for the first time in a section of the Qazvin traditional orchard.
 
Materials and Methods
This research was conducted with the aim of identifying and coding 24 promising maternal pistachio genotypes in an area of approximately 20 hectares of the traditional orchard in Qazvin during the years 1401 and 1402. From each tree, three branches on the southern side were selected as replicates, and three samples from each branch were used as observations for data collection. Several phenological and morphological characteristics, including both fruit-related and vegetative traits, were measured in the studied trees based on the International Pistachio Descriptor (IPGRI, 1997). The research followed a nested experimental design with three replications per nest, and the comparison of mean data was performed using Duncan's multiple range test at a 5% significance level, with the assistance of SAS 9.2 software. Multivariate analyses, including correlation, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis, were carried out using Statistica 18.8 software.
 
Results and Discussion
Based on the results of the mean comparison, the SiC genotype had the longest total leaf length, including the petiole, while the TaD genotype had the shortest. Regarding total leaf width with petiole, the largest and smallest values were observed in the SiC and AbC genotypes, respectively. Additionally, the SiC genotype showed the largest length and width of the terminal leaflet, while the smallest values for these traits were observed in the TaD genotype. Among the studied genotypes, the BrA genotype had the highest ratio of terminal leaflet length to width, and the SiC genotype had the lowest. Previous reports indicate that leaf dimensions have a direct correlation with traits such as kernel weight. Leaves are the most important organs for light absorption and photosynthesis, and an increase in leaf area enhances the production of photosynthetic products, which ultimately supports fruit growth. The SiA1 genotype had the largest nut length, while the AbC genotype had the smallest. The largest nut width was found in the SiB genotype, and the smallest in the TaG genotype, with a difference of about 28.81%. For nut thickness, the SiB genotype had the largest, and the AbD genotype had the smallest, with a difference of approximately 30.17%. In terms of the kernel, the SiA1 genotype had the largest length and width, while the AbC genotype had the smallest. The SiC1 genotype had the largest kernel thickness, while the smallest was observed in the TaC genotype. Previous research on promising Iranian pistachio genotypes reported nut lengths ranging from 16.6 to 23.68 mm and nut widths from 10.46 to 13.7 mm. For blank nut percentage, the TaC genotype had the highest, and the SiA6 genotype had the lowest. The highest splitting percentage was observed in the SiC genotype, while the AbD genotype had the lowest. Based on the quantitative traits studied, the genotypes were clustered into three groups at a distance of 150 units, with each group containing two subgroups. Plot analysis using the two main components of quantitative traits divided the genotypes into four categories with similar components. The first principal component accounted for 40.26% of the total variance, while the second component explained 18.85%. One of the most important qualitative traits in pistachio research is flowering time, as pistachios are dioecious plants, and female flowers can only receive pollen for four days. Breeding programs must identify male genotypes with an extended flowering period to increase production and reduce the percentage of blank nuts.
 
Conclusion
In our recent evaluation of 24 maternal pistachio genotypes from the traditional orchard in Qazvin, we found some promising results that can benefit for orchard growers. The SiA1 genotype stood out for having the largest kernel length, width, and thickness, making it a great choice for maximizing nut size. It also has a high splitting percentage of 70% or more, which means growers can expect better harvests with less labor. Another genotype to consider is the SiC, which features large, three-lobed leaves and the biggest leaf surface area among the studied genotypes. This can enhance photosynthesis, potentially leading to healthier trees and better yields. Plus, SiC ranks high for splitting percentage and kernel quality. These two genotypes-SiA1 and SiC-are recommended as excellent options for breeding programs and boosting orchard's productivity

Keywords

Cluster analysis; Genetic diversity; Quantitative and qualitative traits; Principal components analysis

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