this is about Breeding of almond

1. Crop
Improvement in
Almond
SUBMITTED BY : JATIN DANGI (TH-2021-20-BIV)
: YUVANTIKA THAKUR (TH-2021-59-BIV)
SUBMITTED TO : DR. KIRAN THAKUR

2. Almond
Scientific name : Prunus dulcis
Family : Rosaceae
Chromosome no. : 2n = 16
Origin : It is a native to central Asian mountain areas (India, Iran and
Pakistan)

3. Distribution
 Almonds are grown in many parts of the world, with the
majority of production coming from California, USA. Other
major almond-producing countries include Spain, Iran,
Italy, Turkey, and Morocco.
 Almond is cultivated mainly in regions situated between 36° and 45°
N latitude.
 The major almond producing countries are USA (48500MT) and
Spain(21700MT), which account for about 50 per cent of the total
world almond production. Other leading almond producing countries
are Italy (119000MT), Iran (76000MT) Syria (67000MT),
Morocco(66000MT), Greece(35000MT) and Turkey (34000MT).
 In India, almond cultivation is confined mainly to Jammu and
Kashmir, high hills of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
 The state of Jammu Kashmir is the major almond producing state in
the country.
 In Himachal Pradesh almond are cultivated in Shimla, Mandi,
Kinnaur, Chamba, Kangra and Sirmaur districts.

4. Related Species
The almond (Prunus dulcis) is closely related to other species in the Prunus genus, which includes many other
fruit trees such as peaches, plums, cherries, and apricots. Some of the closely related species of almond include:
 Wild almond (Prunus orientalis): This species is native to central Asia and is the closest wild relative of the
cultivated almond.
 Bitter almond (Prunus dulcis var. amara): This variety of almond is bitter and contains a toxic compound
called amygdalin. It is used in small amounts in some culinary applications and for making almond extract.
 Peach almond (Prunus persica var. platycarpa): This species is native to China and is also known as the flat
peach. Its seeds are edible and have a flavor similar to almonds.
 Sweet cherry (Prunus avium): The seeds of sweet cherry have a flavor similar to almonds and are used in
some culinary applications.
 Apricot (Prunus armeniaca): The kernels of apricot seeds are similar in taste and appearance to almonds and
are sometimes used as a substitute for almonds in recipes.
These species share many similarities in terms of their appearance, growing conditions, and uses, but they also
have some important differences. It's important to note that some of these species contain toxic compounds and
should be consumed in moderation or not at all.

5. Genetic Resources of Almond
Almonds (Prunus dulcis) have a rich genetic diversity, with many different varieties and cultivars that have been
developed over the centuries. This diversity is important for the long-term sustainability of almond production and for
maintaining the genetic resources of this crop.
There are many different gene banks and research institutions around the world that are working to collect, preserve, and
study the genetic resources of almonds. Some of the most important collections of almond genetic resources include:
 The USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository: This repository, located in Davis, California, contains over 1,000
different almond accessions from around the world.
 The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI): This organization, based in Italy, maintains a global
network of gene banks and works to conserve and use the genetic resources of crops like almonds.
 The Spanish Almond Germplasm Bank: This gene bank, located in Murcia, Spain, contains over 2,000 almond
accessions, including many local varieties and landraces.
 The Iranian National Almond Collection: This collection, located in Tehran, Iran, contains over 800 almond
accessions from different regions of Iran.
These gene banks and others like them play an important role in preserving the genetic diversity of almonds and in
providing resources for researchers and breeders to develop new and improved varieties that are more resistant to pests
and diseases, better adapted to changing environmental conditions, and have improved yield and quality.

6. Inheritance Pattern
 The inheritance pattern of almond (Prunus dulcis) is generally considered to be
a simple Mendelian inheritance. This means that the traits of the almond plant are
determined by the inheritance of specific genes from each parent.
 Many traits in almond are controlled by single genes, such as the presence of a
bitter or sweet kernel or the color of the shell. Other traits, such as fruit yield, are
controlled by multiple genes and are influenced by environmental factors.
 Almonds are typically propagated by asexual methods, such as grafting or
budding, which can preserve the genetic makeup of a particular variety.
However, sexual reproduction through cross-pollination can also result in
genetic variation and the development of new varieties with different traits.
 Plant breeders use knowledge of the inheritance patterns of almond to develop
new varieties with desirable traits, such as improved yield, disease resistance,
and kernel quality. Understanding the genetic basis of almond traits can also
help to identify markers that can be used for marker-assisted selection, a
breeding technique that uses molecular markers to select plants with specific
genes or traits.

7. Major Breeding Problems in Almond
Almond (Prunus dulcis) breeding programs face several challenges, including:
 Long breeding cycle: Almond trees take several years to reach maturity, and breeding programs must wait for several years to
assess the traits of the offspring. This long breeding cycle makes it challenging to develop new varieties quickly.
 Self-incompatibility: Almond trees are self-incompatible, which means that they require cross-pollination with a different variety
to produce fruit. This makes it challenging to maintain and breed pure lines of specific varieties.
 Genetic diversity: While there is significant genetic diversity in almond, many of the desirable traits, such as resistance to pests
and diseases, are controlled by multiple genes, making them difficult to select for and breed.
 Lack of resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses: Almond trees are susceptible to several pests and diseases, such as bacterial
spot and the peach twig borer. Additionally, almonds require specific environmental conditions, such as a mild climate and well-
drained soils, which limits their cultivation to specific regions.
 To address these challenges, almond breeding programs are focused on developing new varieties that are more resistant to pests
and diseases, have improved yield and quality, and are adapted to changing environmental conditions. This involves the use of
modern breeding techniques, such as marker-assisted selection and genetic engineering, to accelerate the breeding process and
select for specific traits. Additionally, many breeding programs are focused on developing new varieties that are better adapted to
specific growing conditions, such as drought-tolerant varieties for arid regions.

8. Objectives of Almond
Breeding
The main objectives of almond (Prunus dulcis) breeding programs are to develop new almond varieties that have improved traits such as:
1. Yield: Almond breeding programs aim to develop new varieties that have higher yield potential and can produce larger and more uniform nuts.
2. Kernel quality: Almond breeding programs aim to develop varieties that have desirable kernel traits, such as flavor, texture, and oil content.
3. Disease and pest resistance: Almond breeding programs aim to develop varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases that can damage the trees
and reduce yield.
4. Drought tolerance: Almond breeding programs aim to develop varieties that are more tolerant to drought and can produce higher yields in regions
with limited water resources.
5. Adaptation to different climates and growing conditions: Almond breeding programs aim to develop varieties that are better adapted to different
growing conditions, such as high altitude or coastal regions.
6. Self-compatibility: Almond breeding programs aim to develop varieties that are self-compatible, which means they can produce fruit without cross-
pollination.
7. Early or late maturing: Almond breeding programs aim to develop varieties that mature earlier or later in the season, allowing for a longer harvest
period.
8. Nutritional value: Almond breeding programs aim to develop varieties that have higher nutritional value, such as higher levels of protein, fiber, and
antioxidants.
Overall, the goal of almond breeding programs is to develop new varieties that are more productive, profitable, and sustainable, while also meeting
the needs and preferences of consumers and growers.

9. Principles and Method of Breeding in
Almond :
Introduction:
 Almond (Prunus dulcis) is a nut tree species of the Rosaceae family, widely grown for its edible nuts. Breeding in
almond aims to improve the yield, quality, and disease resistance of the crop. The breeding process involves the
selection of desirable traits, hybridization, polyploidy, mutation, and biotechnological approaches.
Selection:
 The selection process involves identifying individuals with desirable traits such as high yield, quality, and disease
resistance. In almond breeding, selection is based on the following traits:
 Kernel quality: Kernel quality is an essential trait in almond breeding. The kernel size, shape, and flavor are
important factors in determining the market value of the nuts.
 Disease resistance: Almond is susceptible to several diseases such as bacterial spot, shot hole, and powdery
mildew. Disease resistance is a desirable trait in almond breeding.
 Cold hardiness: Cold hardiness is an important trait in almond breeding, as it affects the survival of the trees in
colder regions.

10. Cont…
Hybridization:
 Hybridization involves crossing two genetically different almond varieties to produce offspring with desirable
traits. In almond breeding, hybridization is carried out using several techniques such as controlled pollination,
open pollination, and embryo rescue.
1. Controlled pollination: Controlled pollination involves manually transferring pollen from one almond variety
to another. This technique is used to produce offspring with specific traits.
2. Open pollination: Open pollination involves allowing natural pollination to occur. This technique is used to
introduce genetic diversity into the breeding program.
3. Embryo rescue: Embryo rescue involves rescuing embryos from immature seeds and growing them in vitro.
This technique is used to rescue hybrid embryos that would not survive in the natural environment.
Polyploidy:
 Polyploidy is the condition where an organism has more than two sets of chromosomes. Polyploidy can be
induced in almond breeding by using chemicals such as colchicine. Polyploid plants often exhibit increased
vigor and yield, and this technique can be used to produce new almond cultivars with desirable traits

11. Cont…
Mutation:
 Mutation involves inducing changes in the genetic makeup of the plant. Mutation can be induced using
chemicals or radiation. In almond breeding, mutation breeding is used to introduce new traits into the crop,
such as disease resistance, improved yield, and kernel quality.
Biotechnological approaches:
 Biotechnological approaches involve the use of genetic engineering techniques to modify the genetic makeup
of the plant. Almond breeding using biotechnological approaches involves the use of techniques such as
genetic transformation, gene editing, and RNA interference. These techniques can be used to produce almond
varieties with desirable traits such as disease resistance, improved yield, and kernel quality.
 In conclusion, breeding in almond involves the selection of desirable traits, hybridization, polyploidy,
mutation, and biotechnological approaches. These techniques can be used to produce new almond cultivars
with improved traits such as disease resistance, improved yield, and kernel quality.

12. Genetic Diversity
 Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genetic information present in a population or species. The genetic
diversity of almond (Prunus dulcis) is important for its adaptation to environmental changes, resistance to
diseases, and the development of new cultivars with desirable traits.
 Almond is a diploid plant species, with a genome size of approximately 240 Mb. The almond genome contains
around 27,000 genes, and there is evidence of extensive gene duplication and diversification. The genetic
diversity of almond is the result of natural selection, mutation, genetic recombination, and human
selection for desirable traits.
 There are two main groups of almond varieties: sweet and bitter. Sweet almonds are consumed as nuts, while
bitter almonds are primarily used for oil extraction and have a toxic compound called amygdalin. Sweet almonds
are further classified into soft-shell and hard-shell varieties, based on the texture of the outer shell.
 Almond genetic diversity has been extensively studied using various molecular markers, including simple
sequence repeats (SSRs), amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs), and single nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs). These studies have revealed high levels of genetic diversity within and between
almond populations, as well as differences in genetic diversity among cultivars.
 Wild almond populations have been found to exhibit greater genetic diversity than cultivated varieties, indicating
that the domestication process has led to a reduction in genetic diversity. The development of modern almond
cultivars has been based on a limited number of parental lines, resulting in a decrease in genetic diversity. This
reduced genetic diversity can limit the potential for adaptation to environmental changes and resistance to

13. Salient Achievements of Each
Method in Breeding
Introduction:
 Almond (Prunus dulcis) is an important nut crop that is widely grown for its edible nuts. Almond
breeding aims to improve the yield, quality, and disease resistance of the crop. The breeding
process involves various techniques such as selection, hybridization, polyploidy, mutation, and
biotechnological approaches.
Selection:
 Selection is the process of identifying individuals with desirable traits and using them as parents
for the next generation. In almond breeding, selection is based on traits such as high yield,
quality, and disease resistance. Several almond cultivars have been developed using selection,
such as the Nonpareil cultivar, which is known for its high-quality kernels.
Hybridization:
 Hybridization involves crossing two genetically different almond varieties to produce offspring
with desirable traits. In almond breeding, hybridization is carried out using techniques such as
controlled pollination, open pollination, and embryo rescue. Several almond cultivars have been
developed using hybridization, such as the Carmel cultivar, which is known for its high yield and
good kernel quality.

14. Polyploidy:
 Polyploidy is the condition where an organism has more than two sets of chromosomes. Polyploidy can be induced in
almond breeding using chemicals such as colchicine. Polyploid plants often exhibit increased vigor and yield, and this
technique can be used to produce new almond cultivars with desirable traits. The 'Texas' almond cultivar is an example
of a polyploid cultivar that has been developed in almond breeding.
Mutation:
 Mutation involves inducing changes in the genetic makeup of the plant. Mutation can be induced using chemicals or
radiation. In almond breeding, mutation breeding is used to introduce new traits into the crop, such as disease
resistance, improved yield, and kernel quality. Several new almond cultivars have been developed using mutation
breeding, such as the 'Mission' cultivar, which is known for its high yield and disease resistance.
Biotechnological approaches:
 Biotechnological approaches involve the use of genetic engineering techniques to modify the genetic makeup of the
plant. Almond breeding using biotechnological approaches involves the use of techniques such as genetic
transformation, gene editing, and RNA interference. These techniques can be used to produce almond varieties with
desirable traits such as disease resistance, improved yield, and kernel quality. Biotechnological approaches have been
used to develop new almond cultivars such as the 'Marcona' cultivar, which is known for its high-quality kernels.

15. Conclusion
In conclusion, almond breeding involves various
techniques such as selection, hybridization, polyploidy,
mutation, and biotechnological approaches. These
techniques have been used to develop several new almond
cultivars with desirable traits such as high yield, quality,
and disease resistance. The achievements of almond
breeding include the development of new cultivars such as
Nonpareil, Carmel, Texas, Mission, and Marcona, which
have contributed to the growth of the almond industry
worldwide.

16. THANK YOU