The effect of seedling and GF 677 rootstock on agromophological and biochemical properties of some almond cultivars

This study was carried out to determine the effects on agromorphological and biochemical properties of almond cultivars (Ferragnes, Ferraduel, Glorieta, Felisia, Süper Nova, Guara, Lauranne, Ne Plus Ultra, Moncayo, Marta, and Bertina) grafted on GF-677 clonal and Garrigues seedling rootstocks that conducted in 2020 and 2021 years. The effects of rootstocks on flowering and harvest dates of cultivars differed according to cultivars, and some cultivars grafted on GF-677 rootstock showed 7-8 days delay in flowering dates compared to those grafted on Garrigues rootstock. Varieties grafted on GF-677 rootstock had higher yields than varieties grafted on Garrigues rootstock (6.45 kg/tree Bertina/GF-677 and 5.49 kg/tree Bertina/Garriues in 2020; 14.52 kg/tree Bertina/GF-677 and 13.53 kg/tree Bertina/Garriues in 2021). In addition, it was determined that varieties grafted on GF-677 rootstock formed stronger trees in terms of stem width and stem height compared to varieties grafted on Garrigues rootstock. Among the phenolic compounds, gallic acid amount was determined the highest in Marta/GF-677 (9.32 mg/kg) variety, and lowest in Ferragnes/Garrigues (1.11 mg/kg) variety. Furthermore, the highest oxalic acid value measured from organic acids was 9.43 mg/100 g in the fruits of Ferragnes variety grafted on GF-677 rootstock; the lowest was determined in Felisia (2.39 mg/100 g) grafted on Garrigues rootstock. The most abundant phenolic compound in the fruit contents of almonds was determined as catechin, and the fatty acid was determined as oleic acid. In the study, the highest amount of catechin was measured in Laurenne/Garrigues variety as 59.07 mg/kg, while the highest oleic acid ratio was 83.06% in Ferraduel variety grafted on GF-677 rootstock. In addition, among the rootstock-varieties combinations, oleic acid content was found to be high in more of those grafted on GF-677 rootstock.