Studies on varietal diversity in blooming, productivity and quality characteristics of almond germplasm in Kashmir Valley

The study was conducted to evaluate horticultural traits of almond germplasm comprising four recently released varieties, 10 numbered selections and 10 exotic cultivars. A sizeable diversity was observed in almost all the horticultural traits including blooming phenology, where cultivars/selections were grouped into early, mid and late blooming. The difference between early and late blooming almond types was found as wide as 12 days. Early blooming varieties, though suitable for mild temperate climate by dint of low chilling requirements, ranked low in terms of production parameters as compared to mid and late blooming types when tested under temperate climatic conditions of Kashmir Valley.