STUDIES OF SOME MOLDOVAN WALNUT (Juglans regia L.) LOCAL GENOFOND CHARACTERISTICS

Juglans regia L., Persian or English walnut, is an economically
fruit crop species of edible kernels and widely planted in the temperate
zones. Moldova has ancient walnut culture tradition. In the centuries outspreaded
by seed occurred. Orchards with Moldovan registered or foreign
varieties are established. Searching and selection of walnut biotypes for establishing
new varieties with high nut qualities and productive potential are
important for future. Study focused on evaluation of local trees from natural
population through biometric, sensory and biochemical traits is the aim of the
present research. Surveys in the northern (N), North West (NW) and central
(C) agro ecological zones of the Republic of Moldova were done and nuts
were harvested from seventy trees of walnut from natural populations, for
two consecutive years. Fruits analyses showed high variability: the whitest
shell color in N zone, the highest flavor and sweetness intensity in C zone,
the highest oil % content in N zone. Furthermore, correlation for some specific
traits were found, protein content versus nut weight or versus unsaturated
fatty acid in oil). On the basis of these results, the genetically valued
native trees can be assessed.