Introduction of a New Interesting Walnut Cultivar “Leto”

Abstract

Ιn an effort to create walnut cultivars (Juglans regia) with high productivity, fruit quality and lateral bearing, a new cultivar, named “Leto”, was created by the cross “Gustine” × “Pedro”. Its main phenological and pomological characteristics were assessed according to the criteria of IPGR (1994) and UPOV-TG/125/6 (1999), for 10 consecutive years and compared with its maternal cultivars and “Chandler”. Observations showed that “Leto” has high lateral bearing habit (90%) and presents satisfactory yield at the full production age. The tree size is smaller than that of its parents and “Chandler”, female flowers bloom from 11 to 22 of April and male from 3 to 6 of April. “Leto” nuts are harvested at the end of September, present easy hull dehiscence and high kernel percentage. Other positive nut characteristics of “Leto” are light kernel color, well kernel filling and easy removal of the kernel halves. “Leto” is a mid-early cultivar of great interest due to its high- quality nuts, suitable for dense plantings, in regions where the last spring frosts occur in late March to early April, thus, making it a promising cultivar for Greece, but also for other regions with similar geomorphological and climatic conditions.

Keywords

• walnut
• <i>Juglans regia</i>
• Greece
• phenology
• lateral bearing
• walnut description