of ungrafted 8-year-old End-2 and Pistacia vera rootstocks in the Expt. 5 orchard in 2020. Discussion Reduction in plant tissue B concentration with P. vera × P. integerrima hybrids. Results from these experiments demonstrate that
Pistachio ( Pistacia vera L.) is a deciduous dioecious tree grown commercially in the high desert and Mediterranean climates of Iran, California’s Central Valley, Turkey, Sicily, and Australia. Pistachio is an anemophilous species; air currents
A genomic DNA library enriched for dinucleotide (CT)n and (CA)n and trinucleotide (CTT)n microsatellite motifs has been developed from `Kerman' pistachio (Pistacia vera L.). The enrichment method based on magnetic or biotin capture of repetitive sequences from restricted genomic DNA revealed an abundance of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in the pistachio genome which were used for marker development. After an enrichment protocol, about 64% of the clones contained (CT)n repeats while 59% contained (CA)n for CT and CA enriched libraries, respectively. In the (CT)n enriched library, compound sequences were 45% while for (CA)n it was 13.5%. In both dinucleotide enriched libraries, about 80% of the clones having microsatellites have a repeat length in the range of 10 to 30 units. A library enriched for trinucleotide (CTT)n contained <19% of the clones with (CTT)n repeats. Of the clones that contained microsatellites, 62% had sufficient flanking sequence for primer design. An initial set of 25 pairs of primers was designed, out of which 14 pairs amplified cleanly and produced an easily interpretable PCR product in the commercially important American, Iranian, Turkish, and Syrian pistachio cultivars. The efficient DNA extraction method developed for pistachio kernels and shells (roasted and nonroasted) yielded DNA of sufficient quality to use PCR to create DNA fingerprints. In total, 46 alleles were identified by 14 primer pairs and a dendrogram was constructed on the basis of that information. The SSR markers distinguished most of the tested cultivars from their unique DNA fingerprint. An UPGMA cluster analysis placed most of the Iranian samples in one group while the Syrian samples were the most diverse and did not constitute a single distinct group. The maximum number of cultivar specific markers were found in `Kerman'(4), the current industry standard in the United States, and the Syrian cultivar Jalab (5). The technique of using extracted DNA from pistachio kernal or shell coupled with the appropriate marker system developed here, can be used for analyses and measurement of trueness to type.
The Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to characterize 15 cultivars of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.). A total of 37 polymorphic markers were considered in this study. Each cultivar exhibited a unique molecular phenotype and, as a consequence, can be uniquely fingerprinted. A similarity and cluster analysis based on the amplified fragments produced two distinct groups which are consistent with the known geographical origin of the cultivars. Our results suggest that RAPD analysis can provide a new alternative for cultivar identification and classification of pistachio.
Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) progeny were evaluated at two locations in California for resistance to alternaria late blight caused by Alternaria alternata (Fries) Keissler in 1995 and 1997. Large differences in alternaria late blight infection among seedlings were observed. Narrow sense heritabilities based on half-sib analysis of 20 open pollinated families were 0.48 and 0.11 at Kearney Agricultural Center in 1995 and 1997, respectively, and 0.56 and 0.54 at the Wolfskill Experimental Orchard near Davis in 1995 and 1997, respectively. Differences among families to alternaria late blight infection were highly significant and associated with the female parents. Fifty-eight highly resistant seedlings were identified for future cultivar selection efforts.
Micropropagation of Pistacia vera `Mateur' was improved by adding MeJA to the multiplication and rooting media. Shoot-tip cultures established from grafted trees were maintained on a modified Murashige and Skoog medium containing 5 μm BA and 0.05 μm IBA. Adding 0.3, 1, or 3.2 μm MeJA improved shoot multiplication rates 2.5, 3.0, and 2.3, respectively. There was a significant interaction between the effects of auxin and temperature on the percentage of shoots forming roots. At 25C, the percentage of shoots forming roots was higher in the presence of NAA than IAA or IBA, whereas, at 28C, there was no difference among the auxins. Adding MeJA to the best auxin treatments-31.6 μm NAA at 25C and 31.6 μm IAA at 28C-increased the percentage of shoots forming roots and number of roots per shoot but decreased root length. More than 80% of the shoots rooted at 25C when 1 μM MeJA was added to the root induction medium, which contained 31.6 μm NAA, and the root elongation medium, without auxin. The large number of short roots induced by MeJA facilitated plantlet transfer to soil and acclimation. Chemical names used: methyl jasmonate (MeJA); N6-benzyladenine (BA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole3-acetic acid (IAA).
Micropropagation of Pistacia vera L. `Mateur' was improved with the addition of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) to the multiplication and rooting media. Shoot tip cultures established from grafted trees were maintained on a modified Murashige and Skoog medium containing 5μM BA and 0.05μM IBA. Addition of 1μM MeJA improved the multiplication rate but inhibited shoot growth when present at higher concentrations. Rooting experiments comparing the effects of IAA, NAA, or IBA at 0, 1, 3.2, 10, or 31.6 μM demonstrated a significant effect of temperature on auxin root induction for shoots maintained at 25 or 28°C. At 25°C NAA was better than IAA or IBA, whereas no differences among auxins were observed at 28°C. Addition of MeJA (0, 0.3, 1, 3.2, or 10 μM) to the best rooting media significantly improved the rooting percentage and root number. Greater than 80% rooting was obtained when 1 μM MeJA was added to both the root induction medium, containing 31.6 μM NAA, and the auxin-free medium. In addition, transfer to soil and acclimation was easier for plantlets rooted in MeJA-containing medium.
Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) progeny from the California cultivar improvement program were evaluated at two locations for their resistance to alternaria late blight [Alternaria alternata (Fries) Keissler] from 1995 to 1997. Large differences between seedlings were observed for disease resistance. Narrow sense heritabilities were calculated from half-sib analysis of 20 open pollinated families. Heritabilities of 0.48 and 0.11 at Kearney Agricultural Center were observed in 1995 and 1997, respectively. Narrow-sense heritability estimates were 0.56 and 0.54 at the Wolfskill Experimental Orchard near Davis for 1995 and 1997, respectively. Differences among progeny families to alternaria late blight infection were highly significant and were associated with the female parents. Greenhouse inoculation experiments were not strongly correlated with field results. Fifty-eight highly resistant seedlings were identified for use in future cultivar improvement efforts.
Abstract
Kernel dry weight and crude fat accumulation, as well as shell dehiscence and change in shell color, all indicated that the nut of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is physiologically mature at the time the hull separates easily from the shell. Harvesting prior to or after that critical point resulted in undeveloped kernels or in stained and unattractive shells, respectively. The data indicate that nuts of highest quality may be obtained by harvesting within a period of about one week.
Abstract
The chemical composition and sensory attributes of pistachio nuts (Pistacia vera L.) were studied in relation to genotype, production area, maturity, moisture content, degree of shell staining, and storage conditions. ‘Kerman’ kernals were rated higher in firmness and sweetness, and lower in crispness, bitterness, and rancidity than those of the ‘Red Aleppo’, ‘Trabonella’, and ‘Bronte’ cultivars. Differences in composition and flavor of ‘Kerman’ pistachios harvested from 3 production areas were small. Nuts harvested at near optimum maturity were superior in quality to those harvested earlier or later. Drying nuts to 4–6% moisture levels resulted in the best quality. Shell staining did not influence eating quality of kernels but detrimentally affected shell appearance. Dried pistachio nuts can be kept for 12 months at 20°C. Moisture content influenced crispness and firmness while total sugars content was related to sweetness and overall flavor intensity.