Evaluation of Some Pecan Varieties Growing under Drip Irrigation System at El-Behera Governorate, Egypt Environmental Condition

FIVE PECAN (Carya illinoensis Wang. R koch) varieties ….namely: Wichita, Desirable, Burkett, Grazona and Mahan were evaluated in a private farmat EL-Behera governorate, Egypt. All data was used to compare the results of morphological parameters, flowering characteristics, dichogamy phenomenon, fruit set, yield, fruit quality, nut shape, moisture and kernel oil content and biochemical genetic finger print.
 
The results showed that, Wichita, Grazona and Desirable pecan varieties surpassed the others in morphological growth. Mahan vr. be preferred as it produced the maximum  No. of vegetative and female buds with longer male and female inflorescences. While, Wichita has higher No. of dormant, vegetative, male and female buds with longer staminate inflorescences. This study exhibited relatively incomplete dichogamy where Desirable, Grazona and Burkett vrs. were classified as protandrous (type,1) while Mahan vr. was classified as protogynous (type, 2). Desirabie can be a good pollinator for both Burkett and Mahan vrs. . There were more consistent periods of overlap between Desirable and Burkett vrs. which reflected on producing higher fruit set. Mahan was the earliest in fruit set followed by Burkett while, Grazona was the latest. Desirable gained higher nut yield in the 1^st season while, Wichita has the highest nut yield in the 2^nd season.  Mahan vr. has the heaviest nut, and kernel weight and oil content followed by Wichita but Desirable and Burkett have the least weight. Palmetic acid was the main saturated fatty acid while, oleic and linoleic acids were the main unsaturated acids. Mahan kernel oil was the richest in palmetic acid during the two studied seasons and linoleic in the 2^nd season but the least oleic acid in the 1^st one. Wichita oil has the highest oleic acid in the two studied seasons and linoleic acid in the 1^st season.
 
The genetic polymorphism between the five pecan cultivars was detected by RAPD analysis. Sixteen out of 31 bands detected were polymorphic for the different cultivars. Six markers were found to be specific for Mahan, two markers were specific for Wichita and only one specific marker detected for both Burkett and Desirable.
So we can recommend for Egyptian growers to spread the present five pecan varieties all over the new reclaimed soil for enriching Egyptian food, dietary source of antioxidants, raised local market and export.