Özcan Akide, Taşcı Huri, Bükücü Şakir Burak, Ayaz İlker Büşah, Sütyemez Mehmet
Department of Organic Farming, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Göksun, Kahramanmaras, 46600, Türkiye.
Pistachio Research Institute, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Şahinbey, Gaziantep, 27070, Türkiye.
BMC Plant Biol. 2025 Jan 23;25(1):98. doi: 10.1186/s12870-025-06124-6.
Walnut (Juglans regia L.) breeding programs aim to develop new genotypes that exhibit superior agronomic traits, including high yield, improved nut quality, and favorable phenological traits. One of the primary methods used in these programs is hybridization, which involves controlled crosses between selected parent varieties. In reciprocal cross, understanding the genetic contributions of both maternal and paternal parents is crucial, as these contributions significantly influence the phenotypic traits of the resulting progeny. This knowledge allows breeders to predict and select genotypes that best meet the desired breeding objectives, ultimately enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability.
This study analyzed the pomological traits of F1 plants derived from four different hybrid combinations: Pedro × Maraş 18, Pedro × Sütyemez 1, Maraş 18 × Pedro, and Sütyemez 1 × Pedro. The assessment focused on key nut traits, including nut length, nut diameter, nut weight, kernel weight, and kernel percentage. Statistical analyses revealed significant variations in these traits among the hybrid combinations, with these differences determined at the p < 0.05 significance level. Kernel weight exhibited the highest coefficient of variation (CV = 33.63%), indicating substantial variability in this trait among the hybrids. Nut diameter had the lowest variability (CV = 12.82%), suggesting greater consistency across the hybrid combinations. Other traits, such as nut weight, nut length, and kernel percentage, showed intermediate levels of variability, with CVs of 27.33%, 13.45%, and 18.59%, respectively. The study found that maternal parents played a more partially dominant role in determining nut traits in most hybrid combinations. However, when Sütyemez 1 and Maraş 18 were used as maternal parents, their influence on the inheritance of some nut traits was relatively greater than the other parent variety (Pedro).
The findings emphasize the crucial role of parent selection in walnut hybridization breeding programs, with parental effects being relatively prominent in influencing pomological traits, underscoring the need for careful selection of maternal parents to achieve the desired outcomes. Among the varieties studied, Pedro, Maraş 18, and Sütyemez 1 were identified as promising parent genotypes for improving key nut traits. The variability observed in traits such as kernel and nut weights suggests potential for further selection and genetic improvement. This variation highlights the genetic diversity present in the studied hybrids, which can be effectively utilized in breeding efforts. These results not only contribute to the improvement of walnut varieties but also have broader implications for global walnut production, providing valuable guidance for breeding programs aiming to improve nut quality in walnut hybridization programs.
核桃（Juglans regia L.）育种计划旨在培育出具有优良农艺性状的新基因型，包括高产、改善坚果品质和良好的物候性状。这些计划中使用的主要方法之一是杂交，即选定亲本品种之间的可控杂交。在正反交中，了解母本和父本的遗传贡献至关重要，因为这些贡献会显著影响后代的表型性状。这些知识使育种者能够预测和选择最符合期望育种目标的基因型，最终提高农业生产力和可持续性。
本研究分析了来自四个不同杂交组合（佩德罗×马拉什18、佩德罗×叙特耶梅兹1、马拉什18×佩德罗和叙特耶梅兹1×佩德罗）的F1代植株的果实学性状。评估集中在关键的坚果性状上，包括坚果长度、坚果直径、坚果重量、果仁重量和果仁率。统计分析表明，这些性状在杂交组合之间存在显著差异，这些差异在p < 0.05的显著水平上确定。果仁重量的变异系数最高（CV = 33.63%），表明该性状在杂交种之间存在很大变异性。坚果直径的变异性最低（CV = 12.82%），表明杂交组合之间的一致性更高。其他性状，如坚果重量、坚果长度和果仁率，表现出中等水平的变异性，变异系数分别为27.33%、13.45%和18.59%。研究发现，在大多数杂交组合中，母本在决定坚果性状方面发挥了更部分主导的作用。然而，当叙特耶梅兹1和马拉什18用作母本时，它们对某些坚果性状遗传的影响相对大于另一个亲本品种（佩德罗）。
研究结果强调了亲本选择在核桃杂交育种计划中的关键作用，亲本效应在影响果实学性状方面相对突出，强调了仔细选择母本以实现期望结果的必要性。在所研究的品种中，佩德罗、马拉什18和叙特耶梅兹1被确定为改善关键坚果性状的有前景的亲本基因型。在果仁重量和坚果重量等性状中观察到的变异性表明有进一步选择和遗传改良的潜力。这种变异突出了所研究杂交种中存在的遗传多样性，可在育种工作中有效利用。这些结果不仅有助于核桃品种的改良，而且对全球核桃生产具有更广泛的意义，为旨在改善核桃杂交计划中坚果品质的育种计划提供了有价值的指导。
