RELATIONSHIP OF HULL SPLITTING IN PISTACHIO TO CONCENTRATIONS OF SELECTED HULL ELEMENTS

Splitting of the green hull is the major cause for preharvest aflatoxin conta¬mination of the maturing pistachio nut (Pistacia vera L.). The objective of this study was to determine if hull-splitting is correlated to postharvest nutrient levels of the green hull. Nuts were collected from three commonly grown cultivars in Iran: ‘Akbari’, ‘Kalleghhoochi’ and ‘Momtaz’. Nut hulls were categorized as early-split, growth-split, or sound (i.e., unsplit). Concentrations of several selected nutrient elements varied more by hull-split category than by cultivar. A significant correlation was found between Mg and Zn concentration among cultivars and hull-split category. Mineralized sulfur was lowest in the early-split hulls and was correlated with splitting date. Magnesium was highest in growth-split hulls.