Almond (Prunus amygdalus) Prof. Dr. Tahani Jawad Mohammed Ali Botanical Description of Almond: 1. The almond tree closely resembles the peach tree; however, its wood is harder than that of peach trees. 2. Almond leaves have a smaller surface area and are characterized by a long petiole (longer than that of peach leaves). 3. The height of the almond tree ranges from 360–420 cm. 4. Almond trees bloom early in the spring. The flowers are white with a light pink hue. The leaves are lanceolate, bright green in color, and have long petioles. The tree is vigorous in growth, but its branches are less spreading than those of the peach tree. 5. The floral bud is simple and opens into a single large flower. 6. The fruit is enclosed by a hard shell. There are two main types of almonds: • Sweet almond: characterized by a sweet taste. • Bitter almond: characterized by a bitter seed taste and is used for industrial purposes to obtain almond flavoring. Both types contain a high oil content reaching 60%, along with high levels of carbohydrates and proteins. Climatic Requirements (Suitable Climate): Almond trees require very low temperatures during winter to break dormancy compared with other deciduous fruit trees. Therefore, almond cultivation is also successful in regions with mild winters, although requirements vary by cultivar. In general, almond trees have lower chilling requirements than peach trees. Fruiting: Trees begin bearing fruit 3–4 years after planting in the permanent location. The average yield per tree ranges from 25–30 kg under favorable conditions. Suitable Soil for Almond Cultivation: Almond cultivation succeeds in light, sandy, and well-drained loamy soils with good aeration. Almond trees do not tolerate heavy, waterlogged, saline, or alkaline soils. Diseases Affecting Almond Trees: 1. Almond rust 2. Leaf curl 3. Brown and green rot Almond Varieties: 1. Nonpareil 2. Drake 3. Texas 4. Kojak: Fruit weight is approximately 3 g, the shell is smooth, contains 46% fat, and has good productivity. Al-Mustaqbal University — ranked first among private universities in Iraq.