ANALYSIS OF THE HIGH AND STABLE YIELDING CHARACTERS OF A NEW CHINESE CHESTNUT VARIETY-NONGDA NO. 1. A MOTANT INDUCED BY FAST NEUTRON RADIATION

Chinese Chestnut Nongda No. 1 was bred from a mutant induced by fast neutron radiation of Chinese oil chestnut branches in Yangshan County. It had the good economic characters of a high and slaWe yieding variety which included early maturity, dwatfism and potyseetied involucre. The fruit ripening period was from late August to early-September. The average height and crown diameter of eight-year old VM1 trees were 3. 30 m and 2. 70 m respectively. The mean and maximum value of individual seed yield were 2. 8 kg and 10. 7 kg respectively. The fruit quality was excellent and the characters were stable. It was appraised as a provincial achievement in 1991 and has been planted to 100 hm2.