Selection breeding of native walnut (Juglans regia L.) population in Mucur district

This research was conducted to select superior walnut trees for late leafing, yield, fruit quality, disease and insect tolerance attributes among native population of 9000 trees found in Mucur district and Çukurcayır and Özbağ quarters of Kırşehir in 2014 and 2015 years. 51 walnut trees were preselected after late spring frost occurred in spring and fruits were collected at fall. 12 superior genotypes were selected by Weight Ranked Method according to fruit quality, late leafing, yield and lateral fruitfulness and resistance to disease and insects. Leafing dates of selections were recorded between 23 April and 3 May and fruits were matured between first and third week of September in 2015 in their origins. Percentages of lateral fruitfulness of selected types were observed between 30 % and 80 %. In-shell weights of selections were found between 7,53 g (40 MCR 42) and 15,25 g (40 MCR 15), kernel weights between 4.10 g (40 MCR 42) – 7,87 g (40 MCR 15), kernel ratios between 44,17 % (40 MCR 30) – 58,76 % (40 KRS 10). Fruit dimensions were determined in range of 29,41 mm (40 MCR 42) – 37,09 mm (40 MCR 15) for fruit width (E), 28,68 mm (40 MCR 42) – 36,51 mm (40 MCR 22) for fruit length (L) and 34,32 mm (40 MCR 01) – 44,34 mm (40 MCR 41) (H) for fruit height. Crude oil contents of selections were determined between % 63,04 (40 MCR 32) - % 71,49 (40 MCR 30) and crude protein between % 9,68 (40 MCR 22) - % 19,18 (40 KRS 13). Selections were propagated by budding for further investigations. Key words: Juglans regia L., walnut breeding, selection, late leafing, lateral fruitfulness