Genetic variation of selected Siah Mashhad sweet cherry genotypes grown under Mashhad environmental conditions in Iran

This study was conducted with the main purpose of investigating genetic variation among ۱۳ selected sweetcherry (Prunus avium cv. Siah Mashhad) genotypes, i.e., the most important Iranian sweet cherry cultivars based on their pomological, morphological, and phonological characteristics. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at Khorasan-e-Razavi Agriculture and Natural Resource Research Center, Mashhad-Iran, during ۲۰۰۷-۲۰۰۹. Wide variation in pomological (fruit weight, stone weight, soluble solids content, pH, total acid content), morphological (crown volume, trunk diameter, current season growth), and phonological (first bloom, full bloom) characteristics (P≤۰.۰۱) was observed. Genotype SH۷ had the highest fruit weight (۹.۲۷ g), while SH۱ had the lowest fruit and stone weights (۴.۵۱ g, ۰.۳۸ g, respectively). Crown volume ranged between ۱۶.۵۳ m۳ (SH۲۳) and ۳۲.۶۷ m۳ (SH۱۳) in Siah Mashhad sweet cherry genotypes. Current season vegetative growth ranged between ۴۵.۶۶ and ۵۸.۰۰ cm. Results also showed that genotypes SH۲۱ and SH۲۰ had the lowest and highest trunk diameter (۹۳.۶۵ mm and ۱۶۱.۹۹ mm, respectively). Our results indicate there is wide variation in flowering, growth, and fruit characteristics of Siah Mashhad sweet cherry genotypes.

Keywords:

clonal selection , fruit quality , Genetic diversity , sweet cherry (Prunus avium)