Production and Fruit Quality of Pecan Nuts in the Arid Regions of Catamarca, Argentina

Pecan, native to the United States and Mexico, has attracted growing global interest as a health-promoting food, particularly in Argentina, where the province of Catamarca stands out for its favorable agroclimatic conditions. This study evaluated the yield and nut quality of eight pecan cultivars (‘Stuart’, ‘Pawnee’, ‘Mahan’, ‘Shoshoni’, ‘Western’, ‘Wichita’, ‘Kiowa’, and ‘Desirable’) in the arid region of the Catamarca province, Argentina. Yield, physical traits (nut weight, size, and kernel percentage), external and internal quality, oil content, and fatty acid composition were analyzed. ‘Shoshoni’ was the most productive cultivar, with >17 kg plant-1 accumulated (2018-2024), while ‘Mahan’ showed the highest nut and kernel weight. ‘Wichita’, ‘Pawnee’, and ‘Mahan’ exhibited the highest edible kernel percentages (>55%). Regarding external quality, ‘Wichita’, ‘Pawnee’, and ‘Western’ showed minimal damage. For internal quality, ‘Wichita’, ‘Kiowa’, ‘Western’, and ‘Desirable’ presented the highest percentages of edible kernel (97%). Fatty acid composition varied significantly among cultivars, with ‘Desirable’ showing high oleic acid content, while ‘Western’ and ‘Wichita’ stood out for their linoleic acid content. The results confirm the viability of pecan cultivation in Argentina’s arid regions, highlighting the importance of selecting well-adapted cultivars and implementing proper management practices to optimize nut yield and quality.