Identifying Superior Hybrid Hazelnut Plants in Southeast Nebraska

Authors

Elizabeth A. Hammond, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

First Advisor

Scott J. Josiah

Committee Members

Tala Awada, Paul E. Read

Date of this Version

5-2006

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science

Major: Natural Resource Sciences

Under the supervision of Professor Scott J. Josiah

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2006

Comments

Copyright 2006, Elizabeth A. Hammond. Used by permission

Abstract

The goal of this observational study is to identify productive hybrid hazelnut plants suitable for commercial production. The objectives of this studywere to 1) examine a plantation of hybrid hazelnut plants grown in Southeast Nebraska for the presence of eastern filbert blight (EFB); 2) identify high yielding hybrid hazelnut plants; and 3) characterize plant and nut features of selected high yielding plants.

Data were collected from a 3.64 hectare (9 acre) planting of 5,200 hybrid hazelnut plant located at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Otoe County, Nebraska. Plants were grown on 1.5 m x 4.6 m (5 foot x 15 foot) spacing and were neither irrigated nor fertilized. All plants were screened to identify the heaviest yielding plants and to determine whether eastern filbert blight (EFB) was present. Data were collected in 2002 and 2003 from 162 hybrid hazelnut plants in four transects oriented perpendicular to the rows of the plantation. In addition, comprehensive data were collected in 2002, 2003 and 2004 from 54 individual hybrid hazelnut plants selected from throughout the plantation for higher than average yields. Variables recorded and analyzed included: plant age, plant width, plant height, total nut yield/plant, number of nuts per cluster, nut weight, nut broadest width, nut narrow width, nut height and kernel weight. Principle component analysis (PCA) and stepwise regression were utilized to determine variables that could predict plant nut yield. Results from the PCA and stepwise regression indicated that three nut characteristics (i.e., average nut weight, average kernel weight and percent kernel) and two plant characteristics (i.e., plant height and plant age), are strong predictors of hybrid hazelnut yield. EFB was not found in the planting during this study. Five hybrid hazelnut plants of the top 25 identified as high yielding plants produce projected yields/hectare in commercial quantities. Information from this study provides baseline data for identifying superior hybrid hazelnut plants worthy of further research and evaluation.