Phenotypic Diversity of Agronomical Traits and Nut Phenolic Compounds among Pistachio (<i>Pistacia vera</i> L.) Cultivars

Abstract

The phenotypic diversity of agronomical traits and nut phenolic compound content of four pistachio cultivars (Mateur, Elguetar, Kerman, and Ohadi), conducted under regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) during two growing seasons (2017/2018), were evaluated. The experimental orchard was located in the Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Sidi Bouzid (CRRA), Tunisia. Three water treatments were applied from March to September; control (T0; 100% ETc during all the developmental stages), RDI treatment (T1; 50% ETc during stages I and II of fruit development followed by full irrigation 100% ETc during stage III), and stressed treatment (T2; 50% ETc during all the growing season). The results showed that treatments T0 and T1 no presented statistically significant difference in yield and nut biochemical traits, and 50% less irrigation water was used during stages I and II of nut development. The trees under treatment T2 were affected by water stress showing low values of yield and nut phenolic compounds.

Keywords

• pistachio
• drought stress
• phenolic compounds