Evaluation of some almond cultivars and selections in Serbia

This research was conducted to compare biological and pomological characteristics of 15 almond selections from Serbia with cultivars ‘Marcona’, ‘Texas’ and ‘Troito’. The evaluation of bloom and harvest times, yields and pomological characteristics of nuts and kernels was done during the five year period (2010-2014) in Surduk (northern Serbia). The earliest bloom time was observed in the selections ‘15/03’ and ‘23/03’ (March 26) and the latest in the cultivar ‘Texas’ (April 5). The average harvest time was the last week of August or the first week of September. The highest yield tree^-1 was recorded for the cultivars ‘Marcona’ and ‘Texas’. Fruit weight ranged from 3.8 to 6.2 g, kernel weight from 0.6 to 1.3 g, and kernel percentage from 13.4 to 32.3%. On the basis of all observed characteristics, the selections ‘12/03’, ‘24/03’, ‘25/03’, ‘28/03’ and the cultivars ‘Troito’ and ‘Texas’ can be recommended for growing in the region of Surduk and considered for growing in other parts of Serbia.