Investigating the Role of Orchard Management in Pistachio (𝘗𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢 L.) Stained Shell: A Questionnaire Study

Subject Areas : Pistachio

Mohammad Abdollahi Ezatabadi ¹ , Hamid Alipour ² , Najmeh Pakdaman ³

1 -
2 -
3 -

Received: 2024-04-24 Accepted : 2024-09-22 Published : 2025-08-29

Keywords: Manure channel, Orchard management, Pistachio, Stained shell,

Abstract :

A white and unstained shell enhances the marketability of pistachios, while shells with yellow or dark stains are less desirable. Furthermore, studies suggest a direct correlation between shell stains and contamination with aflatoxin which significantly decreases pistachio exports and reduces farmers' earnings from pistachios. Current study aimed to investigate the impact of orchard characteristics and management on pistachio shell staining in Anar and Rafsanjan counties in Kerman province. Data were collected in the fall of 2023 from 286 pistachio orchards in these two counties and analyzed using analysis of variance and SPSS26 software. The results revealed that both quantitative and qualitative water stress on trees, as well as heavy soil texture, increase the likelihood of pistachio shell staining. During summer, preventing the temperature from exceeding 40°C on the surface of the pistachio nuts on the tree can reduce the likelihood of shell staining. Furthermore, the results indicated that the use of calcium-rich fertilizers such as chicken manure, annual application of nitrogen fertilizers, using potassium fertilizers, and pruning excessive spurs in cultivars like Akbari, can decrease the percentage of pistachios with stained shells. Minimizing root damage during nutrition and soil improvement operations also reduces the likelihood of producing pistachios with stained shells. For instance, it is advisable to use manual labor instead of machinery for digging manure channel.

References:

Abdolahi-Ezzatabadi M (2010) An investigation of the role of aflatoxin in the instability of pistachio market and measuring WTP for reducing contamination. Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research. 41-2(2), 159-169. https://doi.org/ 20.1001.1.20084838.1389.241.2.4.0. [In Persian].
Abdolahi-Ezzatabadi M (2011) Economic investigation of price-quality relationship in pistachio domestic market in Iran: A case study of Kerman province. Journal of Agricultural Economics Research. 3(3), 157-172. [In Persian].
Abdolahi-Ezzatabadi M, Hosseinifard SJ, Sedaghat R, Dabestani AR, Akbaripour A, Mirzaie S (2022) Economic analysis of disorders management in pistachio orchards of Anar and Rafsanjan areas. Final report of the research project, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Pistachio Research Institute. Iran. [In Persian].
Arjomand-Kermani M, Alipour H (2021) Reducing the amount of aflatoxin in pistachio shipments with the method of separating the seeds based on appearance. Agricultural Waste and By-Products Management. 3(4), 21-30. [In Persian].
Crisosto CH, Ferguson L (2020) Chapter 5, Pistachio. In: Crisosto CH, Crisosto GM (ed) Manual on postharvest handling of Mediterranean tree fruits and nuts. University of California, Davis, USA.
Esmaeilpour A, Shakerardekani A (2022) Effect of harvesting time and delay in the hulling process on the aflatoxin content of pistachio nuts. Journal of Food Quality. https://doi.org/10.1155/20227831016.
Hashemi Rad H, Moradi Ghahderijani M, Heydarinejad A, Mohammadi Mohammadabadi A, Rajabi A, Alavi SH, Nikooie MR (2006) Identification and investigation of factors causing endocarp lesion of pistachio fruit. Final report of the research project, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Pistachio Research Institute, Iran. [In Persian].
Hosseini N, Reznejad F, ZamaniBaramabadi E (2022) Effects of soil texture, irrigation intervals, and cultivar on some nut qualities and different types of fruit blankness in pistachio (Pistacia vera L.). International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology. 9(1), 41-53. https://doi.org/ 10.22059/ijhst. 2020.303725.374.
Kallsen CE, Parfitt DE, Maranto J (2020) UC pistachio cultivars show improved nut quality and are ready for harvest earlier than ‘Kerman’. https://doi.org/10.3733/ca.2020a0011.
Mahbobinejhad Z, Aminian H, Ebrahimi L, Vahdati K. (2019) Reduction of aflatoxin production by exposing Aspergillus flavus to CO2. Journal of Crop Protection 8(4), 441-448.
Mohamadi-Mohamad Abadi A (2022) The effect of Irrigation of pistachio trees on development endocarp lesion of pistachio fruit. Technical Journal, Pistachio Research Center, Horticulture Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization. [In Persian].
Nazoori F, ZamaniBahramabadi E, Mirdehghan H (2022) Effect of sulfur pesticide on the quality of fresh pistachios in cold storage. International Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology. 9(4), 453-462. https://doi.org/10.22059/IJHST.2021.329211.497
Nazoori F, ZamaniBahramabadi E, Mirdehghan H, Yousefi M (2022) Preharvest application of sulfur as pesticide on fresh hull and kernel of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.).
Nazoori F, Kalantari S, Dorahi N, Talaie AR, Javanshah A (2015) Effect of harvest time, processing type and storage condition on preservation of fresh and dried pistachios nuts. Journal of Crop Improvement 16(4), 795-807. https://doi.org/ 10.22059/jci. 2015.53245. [In Persian].
Pearson TC (1996) Machine vision system for automated detection of stained pistachio nuts. LWT- Food Science and Technology. 29(3), 203-209. https://doi.org/10.1006/fstl.1996.0030.
Pearson TC, Slaughter DC, Studer HE (1994) Physical properties of pistachio nuts. American Society of Agricultural Engineers. 37(3), 913-918. DOI:10.13031/2013.28159.
Porter R, Rawnsley B (2021) Pathogens and other factors contributing to dark staining on pistachio shells. Hort Innovation – Final Report, Australia. https://www. Horticulture .com.au/growers/help-your-business-grow/research-reports-publications-fact-sheets-and-more/ps16002/.
Sadeghi A, Tavakoli Hashjin T, Khashtaghza MH (2005) An investigation on the temperature history of unhulled pistachio nuts prior to processing and its effects on the shell staining. Iranian Journal of Food Science and Technology. 2(2), 51-62. [In Persian].
Sadr S, Mozafari V, Shirani H, Alaei H, Tajabadi Pour A (2019) Selection of the most important features affecting pistachio endocarp lesion problem using artificial intelligence techniques. Scientia Horticulturae. 246, 797-804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.11.048
Sedaghati N, Mohammadi Mohammad-Abadi A, Hosseinifard J (2008) Investigating the effect of different irrigation regimes on early splitting of pistachio cultivar Ohadi. Journal of Research and Construction. 78(4), 149-158.
Siegel JP (2023) Nut factors associated with navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) damage to pistachio (Pistacia vera) in California (2007–2017) and implication for control. Journal of Economic Entomology. 116(3), 882–890. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad051.
Thompson GF, Rumsey TR, Spinoglio M (2013) Maintaining quality of bulk-handled, Unhulled pistachio nuts. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 13(1), 65-70. doi:10.13031/2013.21577.
Zhang J, Ranford T (2021) Identification of key priods of temperature influence on sirora pistavhio nut quality. Hotrt Technology. 31(3), 266-273. https://doi.org/ 10.21273/HORTTECH04760-20.