Promising genotypes Selection of greengage (Prunus cerasifera) from the native germplasm based on quantitative and qualitative characteristics

Greengage is one of the most important early ripening products in the country. There is a great diversity in the native germplasm of Iran. In this study, 32 collected genotypes were evaluated based on 34 phenological, pomological, morphological and functional traits. The results of variance analysis showed that the genotypes were significantly different in blooming time, flowering period length, harvesting time, yield, yield efficiency, flower and spur density, fruit quality, fruitquantity, leaf traits and dry matter at 1% level. The latest flowering genotypes were Goje Holandi, Urmia 20 and 30 and Goje Sabz Bahare . Fourgenotypes, namely GR, G100, Malayer and Ciah had the earliest bloom time, respectively. The highest yields were related to genotypes of G100, Qomi, G98 and Shahriar (as a control trearment). The lowest yields were obtained from GojePaizeh and Tabriz genotype. Genotypes of G98, Malayer, GR, Qomi, and Azarshahr possessed the highest yield efficiency, respectively. The highest fruit weight (1th harvest) was obtained from the genotypes of GR, G100, Ciah, Malayer, GojeBagi and G98 genotypes, respectively. The lowest fruit weight was related to Tabriz and Barghan genotypes. Qomi, Shahriar (control), G98 and G100 genotypes possessed the highest TSS with values of 20.3, 20.02, 19.52 and 18.78%, respectively. The promising genotypes in this study were the earliest flowering ones, (compared to the commercial control (Shahriar)). Hence these genotypes, namely GR, G98, G99, G100, Malayer and Ciah genotypes have an appropriate potential for introducing as new cultivars.