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.