Abstract

Wild apricot seeds collected from 167 selected trees were evaluated and considerable genetic variation for oil content, stone and kernel characters were recorded. Oil content ranged from 50.05 - 57.97%, while range of stone length, breadth and thickness was from 14.64 - 26.48, 12.26 - 21.49 and 8.63 - 14.65 mm, respectively. Stone and kernel weight varied between 66.60 - 295.10 and 18.20 - 68.18 g. Kernel size (length, breadth and thickness) and weight are most desirable characters which affect oil percentage. On the basis of the correlation studies, it was found that kernel thickness (0.292) and kernel weight (0.236) was positively and highly significantly correlated with the oil content along with the stone thickness (0.211). However, kernel weight has positive and highly significant correlation with all the stone and kernel characters.    

Key words: Wild apricot, Prunus armeniaca, genetic variation, correlation, stone, kernel.