Pistachio Cultivars

Presented by Craig Kallsen, Farm Advisor

U.C. Cooperative Extension
With
Dr. Dan Parfitt, Pomologist – AES
U.C. Davis
Pistachio (P. vera) probably originated in
central and/or eastern Asia

Cultivated pistachio cultivars (varieties) are in

the species P. vera

Slides courtesy of Dan Parfitt

 Pinnately compound
leaves of pistachio
species

Slide Courtesy of Dan Parfitt

Slide Courtesy of Dan Parfitt
Commercial nut-producing varieties world wide
are in the genus ‘Pistacia’ and the species ‘vera’.

Pistachio trees are dioecious, which means male

and female flowers are born on different trees
Probably 97% or more of the pistachio
acreage in California is planted to the
Pistacia vera female cultivar called
‘Kerman’ and a P. vera male called Randy Male buds
‘Peters’. with a few open
flowers
(Note: there is no such thing as a Kerman male).

Kerman (female tree) Peters (male tree)

Short History of Kerman
•  selected, in 1929, from seed imported from Rafsanjan,
Iran
•  named in 1952
•  released for trial in 1957
•  grown on 1700 acres in 1977
•  grown on approximately 170,000 acres in
California in 2008.
Kerman Traits in California (irrigated, fertilized)
Yield
•  bears significant fruit in 6th leaf (5-year old tree).
•  alternate bearing (average yearly yield is 2200 - 3500
lbs/acre CPC yield per year over 2-year cycle)
Kerman Tree Characters in CA

•  moderate vigor (trainable trees)

•  trees have upright spreading growth habit
•  begins bloom in late March or early April
•  precocious (bears fruit early in life cycle)
•  open nut clusters
•  harvestability (nuts stay on tree until shaken)
•  uniform nut maturity (nuts ripen uniformly)
•  late nut maturity (September to mid-October)
•  high chilling requirement
•  growth rate of Kerman and P. integerrima rootstocks
similar
 Kerman Nut Quality Characters

•  ‘round’ nut shape (dimensions similar)

•  good hull strength demonstrating few early
splits.
•  clean, unstained shells
•  firm, crisp, purple and yellowish-green kernel
•  split-nut weight averages from 1.0 to 1.6
grams/nut annually
•  good split percentage and strong shell-hinge
strength
•  high blank percentage some years
Kerman has a long (60 year) track record in
California.
We know its strengths and weaknesses.
Peters Male
•  found by A. B. Peters from Fresno, CA. (originally
may have come from Armenia)
•  good producer of durable pollen
•  bloom period continues for three weeks
•  initial spring bloom usually slightly ahead of
Kerman. Bloom period coincides with
Kerman very well most years.

Peters
scorch
Other males:

02-16 - from Azerbijan, overlaps with early Kerman

bloom
02-18 - from Azerbijan, later than Peters and
overlaps later Kerman bloom

‘EIL’, ‘Chico’, ‘Kaz’, ‘Randy’ – early males (some with

P. integerrima heritage) – mostly too early for
Kerman. Pollen viability, quantity and durability
tested only for Randy in this list.

None of these are widely planted in California with Kerman

Other female varieties grown in California
(characteristics found in the literature or described to
me by growers)

Red Aleppo compared to Kerman:

•  one of the first varieties planted in CA
•  flowers earlier in the year
•  equally alternate bearing
•  earlier harvest
•  more shell staining?
•  lower percentage of clean, edible inshell split nuts
•  smaller nut size, crisper kernel
•  trees more difficult to train – hanging branches
Joley (released from California program in
1980) compared to Kerman:
•  blooms earlier (one week)
•  earlier harvest (one week)
•  smaller, flatter and narrower nut
•  similar percentage of clean, edible split
nuts (fewer closed shell)
•  tendency toward light stain (may be do to lack of
huller availability early in season)
•  comes into bearing earlier?
•  similar tendency to alternate bear
Some other varieties from the
Mediterranean or western Asia area that
have been grown in California include:
Ibrahmim (Ebrahim Abadi), Ohadi,
Safeed, Shasti, Wahedi, Bronte, Buenzle,
Lassen, Minassian, Sfax and Trabonella.
Popular Cultivars in other countries:
Iran – Akbari, Ahmad Aghaii, and Kalehghouchi
Syria – Red Aleppo
Turkey – Uzun and Kirmizi
Sicily – Napoletana
Australia - Sirora

Other varieties grown in the Mediterranean and

east-central Asia include but are not limited to:
Aegina, Ajamy, Alemi, Achoury, Avidon, Ayimi, Bayazi,
Batoury, Bianca, Bianca Regina, Boundoky, Cappuccia,
Cerasola, El Bataury, Ghermeza, Ghiandolara, Gialla,
Insolia, Iraq, Larnaka, Latwhardy, Kastel, Marawhy, Mateur,
Momtaz, Muntaz, Obiad, Ogah, Ouleimy, Pignatone,
Pontikas, Rashti, Red Jalap, Shasti, Silvana,White Ouleimy
An Iranian variety called Damghan and a
selection similar to Damghan from the USDA
Clonal Germplasm Repository in Davis, were
budded into a replicated, randomized trial with
new selections from the U.C. breeding program,
this year (2008) in the Buttonwillow area.
This variety has large nuts but is purported to
have low yields. Time will tell.
Past experience suggests that varieties that do
well in one country, even if environmental
conditions appear to be the same, may not do
well in another country.
Taste
Pistachio cultivars from some other countries
are purported to have better taste then ‘Kerman’
grown in California (especially small-nutted
varieties from Italy). Nut taste can be affected
by:
•  genetic differences in sugar, oils and
other constituents of the nut
•  by climate and cultural practices that
influence nut size, for example.
•  what a person is used to.
Few scientific tests have been made to
determine taste preferences for pistachio.
Presenting ‘Golden Hills’ and ‘Lost Hills’ two new
pistachio varieties from a U.C. Pistachio Breeding
Program

The pistachio breeders -

Dr. Dan Parfitt and retired Farm Advisor Joe Maranto
The seedling test plot where selections were made. The seedling
test plot was planted in 1990 and 1991, from seeds germinated in
1989 and 1990.
Golden Hills and Lost Hills were released by U.C. to the
pistachio industry in July 2005.

These two varieties were chosen for release based on

several performance characteristics in a test plot
budded in 1997 on the west side of the San Joaquin
Valley in Kern County.

The initial performance of ‘Golden Hills’ and ‘Lost Hills’

has been similarly acceptable in a second plot budded
in 1999 located on the east side of the SJV in Madera
County, and in its 6th leaf in two additional trials
planted in Kern County in 2002.
 In 2007, after 6 years of
yield and nut quality
evaluation on rootstock,
the ‘Golden Hills’ variety
appears to have excellent
commercial potential.

April 4, 2007 –
Northwestern Kern Golden Hills
County
Golden Hills

June, 2006

2004
Lost Hills

Picture by Eric Mercure, 2004

Kerman
Flowering of Golden Hills, Lost Hills and
Kerman, 2005
Lost Hills, 2007

Kerman, 2007

Golden Hills, 2007

 Randy early male
March 16,
Variety released to 2007
industry in 2005

Winter, 2005

March 27, 2003

March 9,
July, 2003 2007
Randy - April 2006
Randy versus Peters, 2005

Most advanced bloom,

March 17

3/17/05

3/24/05

Average bloom,
March 24
Randy early male
•  first flowers appear 10 to 15 days before ‘Peters’

•  provides good quantities of relatively durable and viable

pollen.
•  is more precocious than ‘Peters’ flowering one year
before ‘Peters’.
•  bloom period overlaps that of ‘Kalehghouchi.’
•  Randy will provide adequate pollination for Golden Hills
and Lost Hills. No other male is necessary.
Estimated date of full bloom for Kerman, Golden Hills,
Peters and Randy in western Kern county (near Lost
Hills) and near Madera in Madera county.
Year Kerman Golden Hills Peters Randy
(male) (male)
2003 April 5 March 31 April 4 March 29

2004 April 2 March 29 March 31 March 23

2005 April 1 March 26 April 1 March 25

2006 Kern May 1 April 24 April 30 April 28

2006 Mad. April 24 April 27
2007 Kern April 1 March 26 April 1 March 25
2007 Mad. April 3 March 29 April 3 March 26
Note: Experimental site was accidentally treated with oil which
advanced bloom in 2003. Bloom timing of ‘Lost Hills’ very similar
to Golden Hills.
 Average earliest harvest-readiness date for Kerman
and Golden Hills in Kern (2002-2007) and Madera
Counties (2004-2007).
Variety Kern County Madera County

Kerman Sept. 12 Sept. 17

Golden Hills Aug. 29 Sept. 1
Lost Hills Aug. 30 Sept. 4

Probably the most important characteristic of Golden Hills compared

to Kerman is its earlier harvest maturity.
Industry dependence on Kerman means entire San Joaquin Valley
crop is ready for harvest at about the same time, resulting in extreme
peak demand for labor, harvest machines and hulling/processing
facilities. This situation will continue to worsen (especially during the
“on” bearing year) as more acres of Kerman are planted.
By planting earlier maturing varieties, the harvest season would be
extended and harvest could be completed with fewer trained laborers,
fewer mechanical harvesters, and less hulling/processing capacity.
The early harvest of Golden Hills has two additional
advantages;
Navel orangeworm nut infestation can increase
geometrically with time. The average two week earlier
harvest can greatly reduce the need for chemical control
of this pest since Golden Hills’ nuts may miss the third
NOW flight almost entirely.
Harvest readiness is easier to predict for Golden Hills. Since
it matures in the heat of August and since most of the nuts
split relatively early in the season, maturity progresses
quickly and evenly.

Often Kerman is difficult to predict because it matures in

September, when cooler day and night temperatures begin.
Cooling temperatures, in combination with the high
percentage of closed shell nuts, makes predicting harvest
readiness imprecise.
Differences in Yield and Alternate bearing among
varieties in western Kern County
Average annual yield and selected nut quality characters of Kerman, Lost
Hills and Golden Hills on PG1 rootstock from 6th leaf (2002) through 11th
leaf (2007) from the west side of the San Joaquin Valley (near Lost Hills in
northwest Kern County)
CPC Grower-paid Edible split Split Individual
assessed yield, lbs/ inshell, lbs/ nuts, % nut weight, g
Variety yield, lbs/ acre acre
acre
Kerman 3036 a 2712 a 2389 a 67.8 a 1.24 a
Golden Hills 3849 b 3654 b 3460 b 84.6 b 1.26 a
Lost Hills 2895 a 2763 a 2631 a 85.5 b 1.47 b

Percentages based on percent of hulled, total dry load.

Values under the same column heading followed by different letters
are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05 by Fisher’s protected LSD test.
The issue of the ‘Split’ in pistachio nuts.

How split should a pistachio nut be?

Average annual percentage of loose shells and meats and total insect
damage of Kerman, Golden Hills and Lost Hills in western Kern
County (2002-2007).

Variety Loose shells and Total insect damage,

meats, %
%

Kerman 0.6 a 1.84 b

Golden Hills 0.5 a 0.04 a
Lost Hills 3.4 b 0.17 a
Percentages based on percent of hulled, total dry load.
Values under the same column heading followed by different letters are
significantly different at P ≤ 0.05 by Fisher’s protected LSD test.
Nut dimensions illustrated

height

length
width
Average nut dimensions (2002-2006) for Kerman, Golden
Hills and Lost Hills nuts (shells) at the advanced selection
trial near Lost Hills in western Kern County.
variety nut length, nut width, nut height,
mm mm mm
Kerman 18.6 a 13.3 a 12.5 a

Golden Hills 19.5 a 13.5 a 13.1 b

Lost Hills 21.2 b 14.0 b 12.9 b

Nut length measured from 2004-06, nut height from

2005-06
.
 PG1 vs UCB-1 rootstocks at Madera

No significant differences were found for yield,

individual nut size or split nut percentage
between PG1 and UCB-1 rootstocks when
grafted to Kerman, Golden Hills or Lost Hills
scions.
Average annual yield and nut quality characters of Kerman, Golden Hills
and Lost Hills averaged over UCB-1 and PG1 rootstocks from 6th leaf (2004)
through 9th leaf (2007) from the Madera site.

CPC Split Loose Total Individual

assessed nuts, shells and insect nut
yield, lbs/ % meats, damage, weight,
Variety
acre % % g
Kerman 1438 a* 67.9 a 2.0 b 0.7 a 1.37 b
Golden Hills 1656 a 82.6 b 0.7 a 0.5 a 1.31 a
Lost Hills 1694 a 80.7 b 3.0 c 0.5 a 1.41 c
Percentages based on percent of hulled, total dry load.
* Values under the same column heading followed by different letters
are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05 by Fisher’s protected LSD test.
 Kerman Kalehghouchi
on PG1 on PG1, 11th
leaf

Aria – 11th
Golden Hills leaf on PG1
Bud – 12th leaf
trees at on UCB1
least 31
inches
above
ground.
Don’t shake the bud union.

Graft trees at least 31 inches above

ground level.
Differences in boron concentration in leaves of various
pistachio varieties on the west side of Kern County
 Short Summation of characteristics of Golden Hills
compared to Kerman for Growers and Processors
(from 6th through 11th leaf).

•  Earlier harvest (two weeks on average)

•  Similar, or greater, average annual CPC-assessed yield,
edible split inshell yield, and grower paid weight.
•  Similar nut size and shell-hinge strength
•  Greater percentage of split nuts, less closed shell, and
fewer blanks means less weight to haul to the huller, and
less trash for the huller to dispose of.
•  Has done well in limited taste tests.
•  Greater ratio of scion to rootstock diameter.
•  Earlier full bloom (by about 6 days on average). Randy male
overlaps bloom well.
•  May be more difficult to bud.

Evaluations are based only on trees that are, at most, 10-years old (11th leaf).
Any initial plantings should be conservative in nature.
 Short Summation of characteristics of Lost Hills
compared to Kerman for Growers and Processors
(from 6th through 11th leaf).
•  Earlier harvest (two weeks on average)
•  Similar, or greater, average annual CPC-assessed yield,
edible split inshell yield, and grower paid weight.
•  Greater nut size but weaker shell-hinge strength
•  Greater percentage of split nuts, less closed shell, and
fewer blanks means less weight to haul to the huller, and
less trash for the huller to dispose of.
•  So far, including harvest in 2008 (12th leaf), has not
demonstrated alternate bearing.
•  Greater ratio of scion to rootstock diameter.
•  Earlier full bloom (by about 6 days on average). Randy male
overlaps bloom well.
Evaluations are based only on trees that are, at most, 10-years old (11th leaf). Any
initial plantings should be conservative in nature.
 UCCE Iranian Variety Evaluation in
California

Two sites: Each; planted in 1998, randomized complete block exp. design,
with 4 reps. Contain Kerman, Kalehghouchi, and Aria varieties
Site 1 - Northwestern Kern County
•  25 trees per rep, PG1 rootstock, boric and calcareous soil
Site 2 - Highway 65 near Tulare County line in Kern County (i.e. east side
of San Joaquin Valley.
•  5 trees per replication, Kresha rootstock, clay loam soil in citrus belt.
The Kalehghouchi Variety

Some blocks of
Kalehghouchi and
Aria in California are
20 years old or
more.
However, to my
knowledge, the first
replicated trials
Kalehghouchi, 2005 comparing
Kalehghouchi and
Aria to Kerman were
established in 1998
in Kern County.
 ARIA

Early split nuts in Aria

Early bloom and

leaf out
Sun burned nuts Big floppy leaves
Loose kernels and shells from normal handling
in sample bags after harvest.
Not good.

Aria, west side –

Aria, east side – Kern County 2006
Kern County 2006
 Kalehghouchi (Kale Goochi)

Kalehghouchi,
8th leaf
Kalehghouchi, 2007

Kerman, 2007
 Kalehghouchi

Kalehghouchi nut cluster

Kalehghouchi – Many nuts borne

inside the canopy close to trunk.
Vigorous vegetative
growth results in low
hanging branches which
may need to be removed
before harvest.

Kalehghouchi was made for

topping, hedging, cross-
Aria
hedging and probably
skirting.

Kalehghouchi Frequent, light mechanical

pruning appears to work for
this variety
Estimated date of full bloom for Kerman and
Kalehghouchi, Peters and Randy, western Kern County
2003-2007.
Year Kerman Peters Kalehghouchi Randy
(male) (male)
2003* April 4 April 2 March 31 March 29

2004 April 1 April 1 March 24 March 23

2005 April 2 April 1 March 24 March 24

2006 May 1 May 1 April 28 April 28

2007 April 1 April 1 March 23 March 26

*Note: Experimental site was treated with oil to advance bloom in 2003.
Most advanced flower buds for varieties or selections
shown on March 17, 2005.
Average harvest date for Kerman and Kalehghouchi
on the west side and east side of the San Joaquin
Valley in Kern County, 2002-2007.
Variety West side SJV East Side SJV

Kerman Sept. 17 Sept. 23

Kalehghouchi Sept. 14 Sept. 23
No harvests occurred on the west side in 2003 or on the east side in
2002 and 2003 due to lack of harvestable nuts.
 Near Highway 155 and
Highway 65, Sept. 2007

Kalehghouchi nuts have shaken very well from the trees in

both of our test plots. However, there are reports as the tree
gets older, nuts are more difficult to remove.
CPC assessed yield by year for Kerman and Kalehghouchi
pistachio varieties in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of
California, 2002-2007.
Cumulative CPC-assessed yield and grower-paid yield of Kerman
and Kalehghouchi from 5th leaf (2002) to 10th leaf (2007) east and
west side of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County

Variety CPC assessed yield, Grower paid yield,

lbs/acre lbs/acre
West SJV East SJV West SJV East SJV
Kerman 12,348 a* 6,599 a 11,378 a 6,209 a
Kalehghouchi 12,696 a 6,751 a 12,218 a 6,473 a

Grower-paid yield is also known as total edible weight.

Crop was not harvested in 2003 on the west side and in 2002 and 2003 on the east
side due to poor yields.
* Values followed by different letters located under the same underlined column
heading are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05 by Fisher’s protected LSD test.
Comparison of selected nut quality characteristics between Kerman
and Kalehghouchi from 5th leaf (2002) to 10th leaf (2007) west and east
sides of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County.
Variety edible, split Split-nut shelling closed shell, Loose shells
inshell, % stock, % % and meats,%

West East West East West East West East

Kerman 74 a 76 a 3.1 a 2.8 a 20.0 b 22.3 0.5 a 0.6 a
Kalehghouchi 83 b 86 b 6.0 b 5.1 b b 1.5 b 1.8 b
8.5 a 8.7 a
Percentages based on percent of hulled, total dry load.
Crop was not harvested in 2003 on the west side and in 2002 and 2003 on the east
side due to poor yields.
Values under the same column heading followed by different letters
are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05 by Fisher’s protected LSD test.
Average nut weight (2004-2007) and dimensions
(2004-2006) for Kerman and Kalehghouchi in western Kern
County.
variety weight of nut length, nut width, nut height,
one nut, mm mm mm
grams
Kerman 1.25 a 19.0 a 13.3 a 12.6 a
Kalehghouchi 1.45 b 19.8 b 13.6 b 13.7 b

Nut weight, length and width measured 2004- 06, nut height 2005-06.

Average nut weights at the east side SJV trial from 2004-2007 were not
statistically different with Kerman at 1.38 grams and Kalehghouchi at
1.42 grams per nut.
 Short Summation of characteristics of Kalehghouchi
compared to Kerman for Growers and Processors
(so far).
•  Earlier full bloom ( about 1 week on average)
•  Harvest earlier or slightly later (2-3 days earlier on average
on west side of SJV).
•  Larger nut size.
•  Higher split percentage and slightly less shell-hinge
strength.
•  Similar cumulative CPC yields and grower paid weight.
•  More difficult to train and prune trees.
•  Ability to shake as trees get older?
•  Greater ratio of scion to rootstock diameter.
•  Randy male overlaps Kalehghouchi bloom very well.

Evaluations are based only on trees that are, at most, 9 years old
(10th leaf). Any initial plantings should be conservative in nature.
 .
Choose a variety in California with
caution!

Unlike grapes,
- grafting an unsuccessful variety back to
Kerman is a slow process