NUCIS number 12. September 2004. 52 pages (full ... - IAMZ - ciheam

Pistacia khinjuk STOCKS 1852.IN IRANINTRODUCTIONThe scientific name of Pistacia khinjukderives from the Persian word “Khenjok”and the origin of this word is the Korasanprovince of Iran. This species is the synonymof the species P. acuminata Boissand Bushe 1860. P. khinjuk is describedas “Lentisque de Bombay” in French language,as “Östindisher Mastix” in Germany,and in English as “East IndianMastiche”. The P. khinjuk trees are widelydistributed in several mountainous regionsof Iran. It is resistant against xerothermicconditions and hot and cold weather.These properties suit it for graftingof pistachio trees (Behboodi, 2003).BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICSOF P. khinjukTrees are dioecious, 3-7 m high, cortexsmooth, grey coloured. Leaves deciduous,imparipinnate, sometimes (var. populifoliaBoiss.) reduced only to one terminal leaflet,pubescent, velvety, becoming glabrousin age, petiole terete, leaflets 1-2(3) pairs, 3-10 cm x 1.5-7 (-8) cm, broadovate, oblique, narrowed suddenly into a± acuminate apex, on the upper surfaceshiny. Fruiting panicle straight. Drupe 4-6mm x 4-5 mm, globose, subcompressed,suboblique, apiculate (Rechinger 1969).DISTRIBUTION OF P. khinjukFORESTSP. khinjuk is reported to spread in Iran,Turkey, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, North Africa,and Palestine.DISTRIBUTION OF P. khinjuk IN IRANACCORDING TO ECOLOGICALFACTORSP. khinjuk is distributed in west, center,east, south, and east-south of Iran, inKurdestan, Lorestan, Eshfahan, KohkiloyehVa Boyer-Ahmad, Farse, Hormozegan,Kerman, Balotchestan, Khorasan,Semnan and Tehran provinces. Only athin north band in Gillan and Mazandaranprovinces, on the coast of Caspian sea isblank of this species. P. khinjuk spread at700-2000 m heights on hills, flats and onmedium heights of Alborze and Zagrosemountains. This species withstands tomost trouble weather situations. The averagerainfall of its growing areas altersfrom 100 mm to 600 mm and the meantemperature varied from 10 ºC to 25 ºC.P. khinjuk is the most interesting pistachiospecies in Iran as it grows in diffe-P. khinjuk treerent regions and diverse climates. It is exclusivelydistributed as continuos populationsor accompanying with subspecies ofP. atlantica. Distribution of this species isnot affected by wide ranging changes inday and night temperatures, height, andlow rain. It is adapted to xerothermic weathers,soil sorts, and difficult environmentalsituations (Behboodi 2003).Using P. khinjuk rootstocks alone, or utilizingits hybrids such as P. khinjuk x P. atlanticasubspecies mutica or P. khinjuk xLeaves of P. khinjukThe forest of P. khinjuk tree30 FAO-CIHEAM - Nucis-Newsletter, Number 12 September 2004