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Shell cracking strength in almond (Prunus dulcis [Mill.] D.A. Webb.) and its implication in uses as a value-added
1United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research Unit, 9611 S. Riverbend Avenue, Parlier, CA 93648-9757, USA. cledbetter@fresno.ars.usda.gov
Bioresource Technology
|December 18, 2007
Summary
Almond shell properties vary significantly by variety and harvest year. Understanding these physical and chemical characteristics is key to developing new industrial uses for this agricultural by-product.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Almond shells are an abundant agricultural by-product with potential for value-added applications.
- Almond varieties differ in shell characteristics (hard vs. soft), influencing their suitability for industrial processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the physical and chemical properties of almond shells from diverse varieties.
- To identify correlations between shell characteristics and other almond traits.
- To guide the selection of optimal almond shell types for specific industrial applications.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated eight diverse almond accessions over two harvest seasons.
- Measured nut and kernel weight, kernel percentage, shell cracking strength, and shell bulk density.
- Analyzed harvest year by almond accession interactions and correlations between variables.
Main Results:
- Significant interactions between harvest year and almond accession were observed for all analyzed variables (p<0.01).
- Strong correlations were found between average nut weight and kernel weight, kernel percentage, and shell cracking strength (p<0.01).
- A significant negative correlation between shell cracking strength and kernel percentage was noted (p<0.01), with some cases showing independence, suggesting variety-specific morphology or composition influences strength.
Conclusions:
- Varietal characterization of almond shell materials is crucial for identifying optimal value-added uses.
- Understanding the interplay of variety, harvest year, and physical properties is essential for efficient utilization of almond shells.
- This research provides a foundation for developing novel industrial applications for almond shell by-products.
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