MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF WALNUT (Juglans regia L.) CONSERVED IN BACKYARDS OF THE SIERRA NEVADA IN PUEBLA, MEXICO

Abstract

The walnut tree (Juglans regia L.) is a highly appreciated species because of its nut for fresh consumption and typical dishes in Puebla, México; it is cultivated under rainfed conditions and in backyards, although different factors are causing a loss in its diversity. Walnuts from 30 backyard trees were characterized in four sites of the Sierra Nevada in Puebla, México, during 2012, with the purpose of locating and selecting outstanding materials, through the determination of eight characters according to an UPOV and 23 morphological traits of the nut, shell and kernel. A correlation and principal components analysis was performed. The results showed a reduction to eight variables that explained 63.5 % of the variability. The conglomerate analysis identified three groups, of which groups one and three included outstanding origins because of nut weight, kernel, and mean shelling ease. It is suggested to characterize the
biochemistry and organoleptic qualities of the origins, to have more criteria for selection and exploitation