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Abstract

Almond tree is xerophyte species and there is high genetic variation of almond population in Iran, due to its sexual propagation. Therefore, Iran can be considered as a gene pool for almond breeding. Since almond bloom early in the season compared to other deciduous fruit trees, they are subject to spring frost , and both flowers and fruitlets may be damaged. Frost hazard could be reduced by selecting suitable late bloom cultivars. In order to select the late-bloom varieties among almond population, a research program was carried out in Miyaneh area in 1992 and continued to 1996. phenological,
morphological and pomplogical traits were investigated and recorde for each
genotypes. Eventually two superior varieties were selected , and they were named Ali-Bala and A-2. These two new selected varieties not only are very late bloom, but also have paper shell (65% to 70%)and semi- papershell (45%to 50%) respectively. They are found to be self- incompatible but cross - compatibile.