2020/06/01 by Craig E. Kallsen, Dan E. Parfitt, Joseph Maranto · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Horticultural and Viticultural Research #Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies #Plant Reproductive Biology
paper · pdf · doi:10.3733/ca.2020a0011
openalex publication_date 2020/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
California pistachio growers have traditionally grown only one female cultivar (‘Kerman’) and one male pollenizer (‘Peters’). Starting in 2005, the UC breeding program released several improved cultivars, which are being planted on increasing acreage — and tested now under commercial conditions at multiple sites over multiple years. We conducted six experimental trials in the San Joaquin Valley to evaluate the performance of the UC cultivars ‘Gumdrop’, ‘Golden Hills’ and ‘Lost Hills’ and their associated UC male pollenizers ‘Famoso’, ‘Randy’ and ‘Tejon’ against the performance of the traditional pair, ‘Kerman’ and ‘Peters’. The new cultivars demonstrated a range of earlier bloom and harvest dates than ‘Kerman’ and some improved nut quality characteristics, such as a higher percentage of split, in-shell nuts. Results indicate that by growing the new female cultivars and synchronous pollenizers, producers can avoid the peak harvest period for ‘Kerman’, when equipment and processing facilities are limited, and maintain or improve their yield and nut quality.