Evaluation of some physical properties and fatty acid compositions of native almond genotypes grown in Adiyaman province of Turkey

Some physical properties and fatty acid compositions of the native almond genotypes grown in nine districts named as Besni, Celikhan, Center, Gerger, Golbasi. Kahta, Samsat, Sincik and Tut of Adiyaman province were studied during two consecutive years. In this context, fruit weight with shell, fruit length with shell, fruit width with shell, fruit thickness with shell, kernel weight, kernel length, kernel width and kernel thickness properties from the native almond genotypes ranged from 1.22 to 3.85 g, from 24.39 to 35.92 mm, from 14.17 to 25.02 mm. from 10.84 to 17.86 mm. from 0.62 to 1.50 g, from 15.82 to 25.35 mm, from 8.73 to 14.39 mm, from 6.02 to 10.67 mm, respectively. In this study, oleic acid (69.21-71.88%) was the predominant fatty acid, followed by linoleic acid (18.76-22.02%), palmitic acid (5.62-7.35%), and stcaric acid (1.20-1.77%). Othcr fatty acids were present at trace amounts. The unsaturated fatty acid and saturated fatty acid contents ranged from 90.02 to 92.34 and from 7.66 to 9.98, respectively. Thereforc, the unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio ranged from 9.36 to 12.12. From the results of the present study, I can conclude that the almond genotypes arc being potential sources of valuable oil which might be used for edible and other industrial applications as well as advanced breeding studies.