‘Yorizane’: A New Self-compatible Almond Cultivar Suitable for California Production

‘Yorizane’, tested as Y116-161-99, was one of 131 siblings field-planted during 1999 from seedling population 985001. The population resulted from the hybridization of ‘Tuono’ (self-compatible) Agricultural Research Service almond selection 74-48 (self-incompatible), performed in Parlier, CA (Fig. 1). Seedlings were screened initially for self-compatibility using insect-proof bags installed on preanthesis fruiting branches. ‘Yorizane’ was among many seedlings having fruit set after self-pollination. The degree of fruit set on the bagged ‘Yorizane’ branches and observed close proximity of anthers and stigmatic surfaces on open flowers provided evidence of its self-fertility. ‘Yorizane’ was selected for further evaluation in 2003 for its attractive kernel characteristics and apparent heavy yield.