evaluation of compatibility and comparison of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of some nectarine cultivars in meshkinshahr condition

in order to select of the best nectarine cultivars in meshkinshahr environmental condition, 11 cultivars of nectarines (including: independence, star redgold, stark sunglow, sanking, quata, shabrang e karaj, germez-e-paeez-e-mashad and 4 new imported cultivars including: winberger, vega, orion and gioia) were grafted on misory peach rootstock. cultivars were planted in randomized complete block design (rcbd) with 3 replication and 4 trees in each replication. in this research, cultivars characteristics were evaluated, vegetative traits (such as: trunk diameter, annual growth, tree height and canopy extension), bearing traits (such as: begin of flowering, flowering period, end of flowering, fruit set and harvest time), quantitative and qualitative traits were evaluated. results showed that vegetative annual growth of vega, germez-e-paeez-e-mashad, quata and sanking cultivars were higher than other cultivars and star redgold cultivar has the highest yield with 11.43 kg and 9524 kg per tree and area unit, respectively. independence, sunglo, germez-e-paeez-e-mashad, winberger and quata cultivars is located in later rank classes. orion cultivar with 5.93 kg and 4942 kg per tree and area unit, respectively has the lowest yield with vega cultivar. all cultivars had not significant differences on stem diameter in first 2 years but have significant differences in 3th year. final results showed that, star redgold, independence, starksunglo and winberger nectarines have the highest adaptability with meshkinshahr condition. these cultivars had the highest growth, better compatibility and other vegetative charachteristics such as: anuual growth and canopy extension were higher than other cultivars. therefore, mentioned cultivars are recommended for new orchards establishment.