Collection, Characterization and Evaluation of Walnut (Juglans regia L) Germplasm from North-Western Himalayas

From the different agro-ecological habitats of North-Western Himalayan region of India, 422 accessions of Juglans landrace diversity from naturalized populations were collected. The area studied was in Uttaranchal (170), Jammu and Kashmir (150) and Himachal Pradesh (102), lying between 30° 35′E latitude and 75° 79′ N longitude. Exploration trips were made from January 2000 onwards in forest, villages and farmer backyards which are mostly inaccessible. These Juglans landrace diversity were characterized for quantitative and qualitative traits in order to be utilized as variety, in respective of agro-ecological regions as well as for conservation in the field gene bank for future utilization and breeding programme. The large variation in nut weight, nut length, nut shape, nut diameter, shell texture, shell colour, shell seal, kernel percentage, kernel percentage, kernel colour, kernel filling, kernel protein and kernel oil were recorded within and between agroecological zones. The range of in shell nut weight, kernel percentage and kernel oil varied from 7.68–18.45g, 28.51–55.55%, 53.00–79.54% in Uttaranchal; 6.29–27.16g, 33.05–66.26%, 58.38–7244% in Jammu and Kashmir and 9.18–19.98g, 34.10–57.88%,13-81-74.92% in Himachal Pradesh, respectively. The nut shape varied from ovate, round, elliptic, broad elliptical, short trapezoid and long trapezoid. Kernel colour ranged form light amber to extra light with moderate to very easy removal of kernel halves.