RESEARCH

M.K. Verma, N. Ahmad, A.A. Sofi, R.K. Verma, J.I. Mir, D.B. Singh, S. Lal, Dinesh Kumar, S.R.
Singh, K.K. Srivastava, H. A. Bhat, A.H. Pandit, M.A. Sheikh, and Shazia Shah

High yielding of better quality walnut cultivars released

The CITH has developed five promising cultivars viz., CITH Walnut-1,
CITH Walnut-2, CITH Walnut-3, CITH Walnut-4 and CITH Walnut-5,
Apricot-1, CITH Apricot-2 CITH Apricot-3 as chance seedling selection
from Kashmir valley, highly suitable for export market as kernel as well as
in-shell. These bears bigger size of nut (18-27g) and well kernel(10-12.75g),
high kernel recovery (46.96-59.39%), light to medium shell thickness, easy
to remove kernel halves, light to extra light in colour. The yield advantage
over American cultivar Chenovo ranging from 112-171%.

The Juglans regia (common walnut, Persian walnut or English walnut), is the original
walnut tree of the Old World. In Indian walnuts are generally produced from seedling origin
trees, which produced poor quality nuts. Because seedling trees are of highly heterozygous in
genetic constitutions. In past few seedling selections have been made in Jammu & Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. A few numbers of varieties have been released having
comparative advantage over seedlings. The Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture
developed very promising cultivars from 11 years of breeding program. Five varieties have
been recently released (July 2009) at institute level by Deputy Director General (Horticulture),
ICAR, New Delhi. The salient characteristic features as given below.

CITH Walnut-1
It is a chance seedling selection from natural population selected from Kashmir valley. Trees have
medium vigour, semi-erect, open branches, well apart, dense, stout, brown to grey and healthy. Twigs
are medium to long, brown and slightly pubescent. Buds are acute, bears predominantly on fresh
growth as well as on one year old shoot terminally; Leaves are compound, medium, broad elliptic,
entire leaf margin, dark green and slightly pubescent. Inflorescence is protogynous, light catkin
abundance, green stigma colour. Nuts are large, long trapezoid, medium shell texture, light shell
colour, intermediate shell seal, weak shell strength, complete shell integrity, satisfactory kernel
flavour, well filled kernel, plumy, very easy to remove kernel halves and light kernel colour. Tree
bears 60 kg/tree at 40 yrs of age. The plant commenced bearing in 4 th year (48 nuts). Tolerant to
biotic stresses except white grub and susceptible to moisture stress. Variety is suitable to grow
under entire temperate climatic conditions of North Western Himalayan agro-eco system. Very good,
consumer acceptability with very good size, shape and colour.
CITH Walnut-2
It is a chance seedling selection from natural population selected from Kashmir valley. Distinct from
already existing commercial varieties/genotypes. Superior in nut and kernel characteristics to
most leading variety of USA (Sunland) which has kernel weight of 9.9 gm. The trees are very
high tree vigour, semi-erect, open branches, well apart, dense, stout, brown to grey and
healthy. Twigs are medium to long, brown and slightly pubescent. Buds are acute, bears
predominantly on fresh growth as well as on one year old shoot terminally; Leaves are
compound, medium, broad elliptic, entire leaf margin, dark green and slightly pubescent.
Inflorescence is protogynous, intermediate catkin abundance, light red stigma colour. Nuts
are large, ovate, medium shell texture, medium shell colour, strong shell seal, intermediate
shell strength, complete shell integrity, satisfactory kernel flavour, well filled kernel, plumy,
easy to remove kernel halves and light kernel colour. Average tree yield is 60kg/tree at 35
years of age. Very good, consumer acceptability with very good size, shape and colour. Crop
has field tolerance to pests except white grub. 153-162 days after full bloom. Variety is suitable
to grow under entire temperate climatic conditions of North Western Himalayan agro-eco
system.
CITH Walnut-3
It is a chance seedling selection from natural population selected from Kashmir valley. Trees are of
medium vigour, semi-erect, open branches, well apart, dense, stout, brown to grey and healthy. Twigs
are medium to long, brown and slightly pubescent. Buds are acute, bears predominantly on fresh
growth as well as on one year old shoot terminally; Leaves are compound, medium, elliptic, entire
leaf margin, green and slightly pubescent. Inflorescence is protogynous, light catkin abundance, green
stigma colour. Nuts are large, round, medium shell texture, medium shell colour, strong shell seal,
strong shell strength, complete shell integrity, satisfactory kernel flavour, well filled kernel, plumy,
difficult to remove kernel halves and light kernel colour. Mid-season maturing takes 160-165 days
after full bloom. It gives annual dried nut yield 40 kg/tree at 25 yrs of age. The plant commenced
bearing in 4th year. It shows field tolerance to pests except white grub and susceptible to moisture
stress. Very good, consumer acceptability with very good size, shape and colour of nut and
kernel. Variety is suitable to grow under entire temperate climatic conditions of North Western
Himalayan agro-eco system.

CITH Walnut-4
It is a chance seedling selection from natural population selected from Kashmir valley. Trees are very
vigorous, spreading, open branches, well apart, very dense, stout, brown to grey and healthy. Twigs
are medium to long, brown and slightly pubescent. Buds are acute, bears predominantly on fresh
growth as well as on one year old shoot terminally, Leaves are compound, medium, elliptic to broad
elliptic, entire leaf margin, dark green and slightly pubescent. Inflorescence is protoandrous, light
catkin abundance, green stigma colour. Nuts are large, ovate, rough shell texture, light shell colour,
strong shell seal, intermediate shell strength, complete shell integrity, thin, satisfactory kernel flavour,
well filled kernel, moderately plumy, very easy to remove kernel halves and light kernel colour. It
matures in mid-season after 153-160 days after full bloom. The average nut yield 45kg/tree at the age
of 30 years. It shows field tolerance to pests except white grub. Very good, consumer acceptability
with very good size, shape and colour. Variety is suitable to grow under entire temperate climatic
conditions of North Western Himalayan agro-eco system.
CITH Walnut-5
It is a chance seedling selection from natural population selected from Kashmir valley. Trees are
very high tree vigour, Spreading, open branches, well apart, dense, stout, brown to grey and
healthy. Twigs are medium to long, brown and slightly pubescent. Buds are acute, bears
predominantly on fresh growth as well as on one year old shoot terminally; Leaves are
compound, medium, broad elliptic, entire leaf margin, green and slightly pubescent.
Inflorescence is protoandrous, light catkin abundance, green stigma colour. Nuts are large,
ovate, smooth shell texture, light shell colour, intermediate shell seal, intermediate shell
strength, complete shell integrity, satisfactory kernel flavour, well filled kernel, plumy,
moderate to remove kernel halves and light kernel colour. Trees mature in 155-158 days after
full bloom. The average dried nut yield is 50kg/tree at 30 years of age. They show field
tolerance to diseases & pests except white grub. Very good, consumer acceptability with very
good size, shape and colour. Variety is suitable to grow under entire temperate climatic
conditions of North Western Himalayan agro-eco system.

Cultivation

Propagation: Wedge grafting & patch/annular/chip budding.

Rootstock: Walnut seedlings, 1-2 year old of pencil thickness.
Initiation of bearing: Trees start bearing after 3 year.
Nutrition: Nutrition should be provided on the basis of soil and tissue analysis. However, the
adhoc recommendation provided by SKUAST (K).
Irrigation: Drip irrigation at fruit development stage @ 20 litres per hour for 5 hours.
Training & Pruning: Modified central leader system.
Harvesting: Harvesting starts after 155-158 days from the date of full bloom.

Summary
The varieties developed have been widely accepted by the orchardists and extension workers
because of the yield and qualitative traits they posses in terms of yield, nut and kernel size,
colour, texture, kernel recovery and easy to separate in full halves from the shell. So these
varieties need to be multiplied in large quantity for commercial cultivation.

For interaction, please contact to:

Dr. M.K. Verma (Senior Scientist), Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, Indian
Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi-110012, email: - mahenicar10@gmail.com), Drs. N.
Ahmad, A.A. Sofi, R.K. Verma, J.I. Mir, D.B. Singh, S. Lal, Dinesh Kumar, S.R. Singh, K.K.
Srivastava, H. A. Bhat, A.H. Pandit, M.A. Sheikh, and Shazia Shah, Central Institute of
Temperate Horticulture, Old Air Field, PO: Rangreth-190007, Srinagar, J&K.