Nine cultivars ('Taishowase', 'Tiodowase', 'Tamatsukuri', 'Isumo', 'Okuni', 'Moriwase', 'Kinshu', 'Senri' and 'Ibuki') and two selections ('KM-2' and 'KM-1') of the hybrid chestnut (Castanea crenata x Castanea sp.) were analyzed in São Bento do Sapucai-SP. The beginning and the end of the harvest season, the fruit dehiscence and the dehiscence, the physical properties such as dimensions and masses of fruit and nuts, the format of the nuts and polyembryony, and even the chemical and mineral composition were evaluated. The data presented indicate that the cultivars and the selections differ in the dehiscence of the fruits. The harvest of the chestnuts concentrated between the first half of November and the second half of April. Some cultivars showed reduced number of nuts in the hedgehog, which indicates a lack of synchrony in the flowering period. There is difference in the chemical composition of nuts among cultivars and selections. The nuts analyzed have high amount of protein and sugars, low amount of sodium and ethereal extract, indicating that starch is the main substance of chestnuts reserves, in cultivars and selections analyzed.
Castanea crenata x Castanea sp.; flowering; production
