Samer Khaled*¹ and mohammad battha

¹ Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Damascus University/Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Samer Khaled, Email: Samerali.khaled@damascusuniversity.edu.sy)

Received: 24/05 /2026               Accepted: 12/07 /2026

Abstract: 

This research was conducted in a private orchard located in the Zakiya region, rural Damascus, during the 2024 season, on 20 seedling-origin genetic genotypes of Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.). It aimed to study the phenological characteristics (timing of vegetative growth initiation, onset of male catkin emergence and female flower appearance, and fruit ripening) and to evaluate productivity (fruit weight, kernel weight, shelling percentage, and total yield). The results showed significant variation in all studied traits. Vegetative growth initiation ranged from March 20 (early genotypes T10, T15, T20) to April 3 (late genotypes T13, T19, T2, T5, T8). The flowering periods of male and female flowers overlapped in most genotypes (except for two genotypes by one day), which reduces the critical need for external pollinizers. Fruit ripening ranged from August 5 (T15, T17) to September 11 (T12). Genotype T4 significantly outperformed in mean fresh fruit weight (26.44 g) and dry fruit weight (17.31 g), mean kernel weight (8.47 g), and dry yield (34.06 kg/tree), while genotype T20 recorded the highest shelling percentage (56.48%). These results are considered a preliminary evaluation for a single season, and require subsequent studies over several consecutive years and across different geographical locations, using vegetatively propagated trees, to confirm trait stability before officially recommending any of these genotypes as commercial cultivars.

Keywords: Walnut, Juglans regia, local genotypes, phenological characteristics, productivity, Rural Damascus.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF