Evaluation of genetic variation in pistachio cultivars using morphological characteristics.

In order to study the genetic variations of pistachio cultivars, 42 female pistachio cultivars in Station No.2 of Rafsanjan, 25 cultivars in Pistachio Research Station of Kerman, 40 cultivars in Station No. 1 of Naseriyeh region, 3 cultivars from Damghan region, and 5 ones from Khorasan region were chosen. To do cluster analysis based on morphological characteristics, characteristics such as number of leaflets, leaf tint, form of the last leaflet, peak of the last leaflet, base of the last leaflet, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, petiole diameter, length of the last leaflet, width of the last leaflet, form of the pistachio fruit, leaf area, length of the pistachio fruit, width of the pistachio fruit, diameter of the pistachio fruit, and form of shell peak were all measured. After measurement and collecting data, cluster analysis was done with SPSS statistical software based on the measured characteristics, and the related tree chart obtained. The results showed that Rafsanjan cultivars in 10 groups, Naseriyeh cultivars in 12 groups, and Kerman cultivars were put in 6 separated groups. The cluster analysis of all cultivars of all regions delineated that classification of the cultivars was done regionally, in which cultivars of various regions were put in separated groups. This illustrates effects of environment on morphological characteristics. Similar cultivars in different regions expose different morphological characteristics and causes similar cultivars in various regions having close genetic similarity are not in one group based on morphological characteristicsso to study the genetic variation of cultivars in different regions, in addition to morphologic characteristics, molecular markers such as DNA and proteins must be used. Cultivars of Damghan and Khorasan regions were put in one group in which Shahpasand cultivar of Damghan and white Badami (almond-like) cultivar of Khorasanand also Abbas-ali cultivar of Damghan and Barg Siyah (Black Leaf) cultivar of Khorasan have very close genetic similarity based on Cosine similarity coefficient with the rate of 0.893 and 0.908 respectively.