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Evaluation of seed quality and oil parameters in native Iranian almond (Prunus L. spp.) species

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Abstract

We assessed chemical composition and variation in oil content and seed weight of 40 wild-growing almonds (Prunus L. spp.) accessions collected from different parts of Iran. There were significant differences in kernel weight and oil parameters. Accessions ranged from 0.20 to 1.5 g in kernel weight, 0.2–3.0 mm in shell thickness, and 16–55 % in oil content. The predominant vegetable oil components of kernels were 4.6–9.5 % palmitic acid, 0.4–0.8 % palmitoleic acid, 1.0–3.4 % stearic acid, 48.8–88.4 % oleic acid and 11.3–33.2 % linoleic acid. Linolenic acid was detected in 15 accessions. High heritability was recorded for all studied traits and was maximum for shell thickness (98.5 %) and minimum for oil content (97.1 %). Maximum and minimum ‘Euclidean’ pair wise dissimilarities were 17.9 and 0.5, respectively. All 40 accessions were grouped into two major clusters.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully thank Payam-e-Noor University for their financial support, the section of Horticulture, ANRRC of Shahrekord for providing access to the wild almond species located at the station. This study was financially supported by Payam-e-Noor University

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture, Payame Noor University, P.O. Box 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran

    Soghra Kiani

  2. Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, P.O. Box 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran

    Shakiba Rajabpoor

  3. Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, P.O. Box 61355/144, Ahvaz, Iran

    Karim Sorkheh

  4. Department of Horticulture, Agricultural Faculty, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey

    Sezai Ercisli

Authors
  1. Soghra Kiani
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  2. Shakiba Rajabpoor
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  3. Karim Sorkheh
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  4. Sezai Ercisli
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karim Sorkheh.

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The online version is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Corresponding editor: Hu Yanbo

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Kiani, S., Rajabpoor, S., Sorkheh, K. et al. Evaluation of seed quality and oil parameters in native Iranian almond (Prunus L. spp.) species. J. For. Res. 26, 115–122 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-014-0009-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-014-0009-5

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