Frost resistance of hazelnut varieties in the Central Black Earth Region of Russia

Abstract

The I. V. Michurin Federal Scientific Center has concentrated a hazelnut genotypes collection of various ecological and geographical origin. Based on existing collection contemporary breeding work pointed at creating of new adapted to the soil and climate conditions of the Central Black Earth Region varieties of nuts. In this paper, we analyzed the indicators of frost resistance of hazelnut varieties of the species Corylus avellana L. and Corylus pontica C. (Koch.). Based on a comparative assessment valuable genotypes identification for producing and further breeding was the main purpose of the study. The paper shows the results of studying of 37 hazelnut varieties by the reaction to temperature decrease up to −40°C after standard quenching. We have identified the sources of high frost resistance, among which a special place is occupied by a new Schelkunchik variety. This genotype has no damage of the bark and cambium tissues, reversible damage of wood and vegetative buds, and a low level of male inflorescences lethality (2%). We have identified the frost resistance potential of the varieties Moskovskiy rubin, Ivanteevskiy krasniy, Pushkinskiy krasniy, Moscovskiy ranniy, Academik Yablokov. It is sufficient for cultivation of those varieties at the conditions of the Central Black Earth Region of Russia.