Plant Performance and Nut Characteristics of Chestnut ( spp.) Grown in North Florida
[Thesis]
Gajjar, Pranavkumar D.
Sheikh, Mehboob
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
2019
129 p.
M.Agr.Sc.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
2019
Chestnut (Castanea spp.) is an edible nut crop, and once American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was one of the most common and important tree species in the Northeastern United States. Cultural variation in cuisine, influencing people to regain popularity of chestnuts in their diet. In north Florida, main dominant tree species is Pine and chestnut is a nontraditional crop. Chestnut trees (180) growing at the FAMU Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research, Tallahassee, Florida representing nine different Chinese, Japanese and hybrid cultivars were used in the study. More than 50 morphological components of leaf, bud, twig, stem, tree, nuts and fruits were analyzed phenotypically. Phenology of bud bursting, flowering, fruit set, fruit maturation and nut maturation were observed in the field. A study of nut developmental stages was also performed with distinct phenotypic and biochemical components. Photosynthate produced by leaves and transferred to nuts was monitored to establish source-sink relationship. Biochemical analysis of nuts was performed for different nutritional components (protein, total sugar, starch, antioxidant activity, flavonoids and total phenolics). Chestnut roasting method was optimized to derive a product with superior flavor and aroma characteristics using chestnuts grown in Tallahassee, Florida. Results showed that phenological and phenotypic property was varied from cultivar to cultivar and species to species. Nut development analysis and nutrition data revealed, probable stage of quality nut harvesting. Source and sink relationship study have provided proof of relocation of photosynthate from leaves to nuts. Roasting optimization study has revealed that a 30-minute roasting is ideal to obtain a superior roasted chestnut product. Overall, outcome of this research would help farmers, chestnut industry and consumers to expand the horizon of chestnut knowledge in various ways.