Abstract
In this study, the sweet, bitter or slightly bitter flavour of the kernel of 1969 almond trees was determined over a 2-year period; the trees are seedlings of 51 families deriving from crosses of 12 varieties of almond. It is proven that this trait is controlled by just one gene, with bitterness being due to the recessive allele. Trees with slightly bitter kernels are heterozygous forms, in which the bitter flavour is scarcely expressed due to an alteration of the total dominance system. In addition, the varieties used as parents have been classified as homozygous or heterozygous for this trait.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Barbera, G, Di Marco, L, Fatta Del Bosco, G, and Inglese, P. 1987. Behaviour of 26 almond cultivars growing under rainfed and semiarid conditions in Sicily. 7 Collogue GREMPA. Reus, June 1987, pp. 17–32.
Chandler, W H. 1957. Deciduous Orchards. Lea and Febiger. Philadelphia.
El Gharbi, A. 1981. Résultats préliminaires des croisements intervariétaux d'amandier réalisés en Tunisie. Opt Méd Serie Études, 81/1, 23–35.
Frehner, M, Scalet, M, and Conn, E E. 1990. Pattern of the cyanide-potential in developing fruits. Plant Physiol, 94, 28–34.
Godini, A, Ferrara, E, and Reina, A. 1979. Composizione chimica e caratteri estetici ed organolettici dei semi di una vasta popolazione di cultivar di mandorlo pugliesi. In: Convegno Nazionale:II Miglioramento della Coltura del Mandorlo e del Nocciòlo Aspetti Genetici e Tecnici. Messina e Siracusa, 29 e 30/11 1979, pp. 331–339.
Grasselly, C H, and Crossa-Raynaud, P. 1983. Mejora genética. In: Grasselly Ch. and Crossa-Raynaud, P. (eds) El Almendro. Ediciones Mundi-Prensa, Madrid, pp. 165–207.
Heppner, J. 1923. The factor for bitterness in the sweet almond. Genetics, 8, 390–392.
Heppner, J. 1926. Further evidence on the factor for bitterness in the sweet almond. Genetics, 11, 605–606.
Kester, D E, and Asay, R N. 1975. Almonds. In: Janick, J. and Moore, J. N. (eds) Advances in Fruit Breeding. Purdue University Press, West Lafayette, IN, pp. 387–419.
McCarty, C D, Leslie, J W, and Frost, H B. 1952. Bitterness of kernels of almond × peach hybrids and their parents. Proc Am Soc Hort Sci, 59, 254–258.
Spiegel-Roy, P. 1979. Genetics and breeding of almond and grape. Mono Genet Agr, 4, 275–293.
Spiegel-Roy, P, and Kochba, J. 1974. The inheritance of bitter and double kernel characters in the almond. Z Pflanzen-zuchtg, 71, 319–329.
Spiegel-Roy, P, and Kochba, J. 1977. Sull'hereditarietà di alcuni caratteri dei frutti di mandorlo. 3 Colloque GREMPA. Bari, October 1977, pp. 163–179.
Spiegel-Roy, P, and Kochba, J. 1981. Inheritance of nut and kernel traits in almond. Euphytica, 30, 161–174.
Vargas, F J, and Romero, M A. 1988. Mejora de variedades de almendro en Cataluña. Adas III Con SECH. Tenerife 1988 1, 94 (Abstract).
Vargas, F J, Romero, M A, Rovira, M, and Girona, J. 1983. Amélioration de l'amandier par croisement de variétés. Résultats préliminaires à Tarragone (Espagne). Opt Méd Serie Études, 1, 101–122.
Woodroof, J G. 1967. Tree Nuts: Production, Processing, Products, Vol. I.AVI Co., Westport, CT.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dicenta, F., García, J. Inheritance of the kernel flavour in almond. Heredity 70, 308–312 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1993.44
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1993.44
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Genetic variability is preserved among strongly differentiated and geographically diverse almond germplasm: an assessment by simple sequence repeat markers
Tree Genetics & Genomes (2019)
-
Heritability and phenotypic variation of double seeds in almond (Prunus dulcis)
Euphytica (2014)
-
Phenotypic diversity and relationships of fruit quality traits in inter-specific almond × peach backcrosses breeding progenies
Euphytica (2013)
-
Molecular markers for kernel bitterness in almond
Tree Genetics & Genomes (2010)
-
Bitterness inheritance in apricot (P. armeniaca L.) seeds
Tree Genetics & Genomes (2008)