Adaptation of Almond Cultivars in Majorca Island: Agronomical, Productive, and Fruit Quality Characteristics

Almond cultivation has a long-standing tradition on the island of Majorca, traditionally practiced under rainfed conditions. Currently, new plantations are established with irrigation; however, due to present conditions and the impacts of climate change, water availability is limited. The Government...

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Main Authors: Miquel Llompart, Miguel Barceló, Jeroni Pou, Joana Maria Luna, Xavier Miarnau, Maria Carme Garau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/9/1927
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author Miquel Llompart
Miguel Barceló
Jeroni Pou
Joana Maria Luna
Xavier Miarnau
Maria Carme Garau
author_facet Miquel Llompart
Miguel Barceló
Jeroni Pou
Joana Maria Luna
Xavier Miarnau
Maria Carme Garau
author_sort Miquel Llompart
collection DOAJ
description Almond cultivation has a long-standing tradition on the island of Majorca, traditionally practiced under rainfed conditions. Currently, new plantations are established with irrigation; however, due to present conditions and the impacts of climate change, water availability is limited. The Government of the Balearic Islands permits a maximum water supply of 3000 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> per year for almond cultivation. In this study, a 6-year field trial was conducted to investigate the adaptation of fourteen almond cultivars obtained from different research centers under deficit irrigation practices in the soil and climatic conditions of Majorca Island. The cultivars had a significant effect on trunk cross-sectional area TCSA, cumulative almond in-shell yield, cumulative kernel yield, yield efficiency, and shelling percentage. The ‘Marta’ and ‘Tarraco’ cultivars exhibited the highest TCSA values. Regarding cumulative almond in-shell yield, ‘Glorieta’ and ‘Constantí’ produced the highest yields, whereas the lowest yields were observed in ‘Mardía’ and ‘Tarraco’. In terms of shelling percentage, ‘Ferragnès’ exhibited the highest value. Kernel quality parameters were cultivar-specific. Additionally, oleic acid content was strongly negatively correlated with linoleic acid content. All cultivars exhibited an unsaturated fatty acid content exceeding 90%, with ‘Masbovera’ showing the highest value.
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spelling doaj-art-258a5c2ad9e44ae7a7f851d5ca63abc52025-08-20T01:56:02ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-08-01149192710.3390/agronomy14091927Adaptation of Almond Cultivars in Majorca Island: Agronomical, Productive, and Fruit Quality CharacteristicsMiquel Llompart0Miguel Barceló1Jeroni Pou2Joana Maria Luna3Xavier Miarnau4Maria Carme Garau5Agronomic Engineering and Sustainability of Agricultural Systems, Department of Industrial Engineering and Construction, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, SpainCompany of Agrarian Transformation S.A., 07009 Palma, SpainCompany of Agrarian Transformation S.A., 07009 Palma, SpainInstitute of Research Formation Agricultural and Fishing, Government of the Balearic Islands, 07009 Palma, SpainFruit Production Program, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, Fruitcentre, Parc AgroBiotech, 25003 Lleida, SpainInstitute of Research Formation Agricultural and Fishing, Government of the Balearic Islands, 07009 Palma, SpainAlmond cultivation has a long-standing tradition on the island of Majorca, traditionally practiced under rainfed conditions. Currently, new plantations are established with irrigation; however, due to present conditions and the impacts of climate change, water availability is limited. The Government of the Balearic Islands permits a maximum water supply of 3000 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> per year for almond cultivation. In this study, a 6-year field trial was conducted to investigate the adaptation of fourteen almond cultivars obtained from different research centers under deficit irrigation practices in the soil and climatic conditions of Majorca Island. The cultivars had a significant effect on trunk cross-sectional area TCSA, cumulative almond in-shell yield, cumulative kernel yield, yield efficiency, and shelling percentage. The ‘Marta’ and ‘Tarraco’ cultivars exhibited the highest TCSA values. Regarding cumulative almond in-shell yield, ‘Glorieta’ and ‘Constantí’ produced the highest yields, whereas the lowest yields were observed in ‘Mardía’ and ‘Tarraco’. In terms of shelling percentage, ‘Ferragnès’ exhibited the highest value. Kernel quality parameters were cultivar-specific. Additionally, oleic acid content was strongly negatively correlated with linoleic acid content. All cultivars exhibited an unsaturated fatty acid content exceeding 90%, with ‘Masbovera’ showing the highest value.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/9/1927<i>Prunus dulcis</i>Mediterranean regionbreeding programsyieldirrigationnutritional values
spellingShingle Miquel Llompart
Miguel Barceló
Jeroni Pou
Joana Maria Luna
Xavier Miarnau
Maria Carme Garau
Adaptation of Almond Cultivars in Majorca Island: Agronomical, Productive, and Fruit Quality Characteristics
Agronomy
<i>Prunus dulcis</i>
Mediterranean region
breeding programs
yield
irrigation
nutritional values
title Adaptation of Almond Cultivars in Majorca Island: Agronomical, Productive, and Fruit Quality Characteristics
title_full Adaptation of Almond Cultivars in Majorca Island: Agronomical, Productive, and Fruit Quality Characteristics
title_fullStr Adaptation of Almond Cultivars in Majorca Island: Agronomical, Productive, and Fruit Quality Characteristics
title_full_unstemmed Adaptation of Almond Cultivars in Majorca Island: Agronomical, Productive, and Fruit Quality Characteristics
title_short Adaptation of Almond Cultivars in Majorca Island: Agronomical, Productive, and Fruit Quality Characteristics
title_sort adaptation of almond cultivars in majorca island agronomical productive and fruit quality characteristics
topic <i>Prunus dulcis</i>
Mediterranean region
breeding programs
yield
irrigation
nutritional values
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/9/1927
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