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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #430298
Research Project: Breeding Prunus and Vitis to Improve Disease Resistance, Fruit Quality, and Climate Change Adaptation

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: ‘USDA-ARS Parpareil’: A new self-compatible almond suitable for the nonpareil marketing group

Author
item LEDBETTER, CRAIG - Retired ARS Employee
item Riaz, Summaira
item Krugner, Rodrigo

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/29/2026
Publication Date: 2/20/2026
Citation: Ledbetter, C., Riaz, S., Krugner, R. 2026. ‘USDA-ARS Parpareil’: A new self-compatible almond suitable for the nonpareil marketing group. HortScience. 61(3). 608-609. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI19212-26.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI19212-26

Interpretive Summary: California's almond industry, covering over 1.3 million acres, has long depended on bee pollination for successful harvests. A new almond variety, 'USDA-ARS Parpareil', developed by the USDA-ARS in Parlier, CA, is a self-compatible tree, meaning it doesn't need outside pollen sources for successful pollination and fruit set. This exciting development promises to potentially reduce reliance on costly bee rentals and simplify orchard management. Rigorous Regional Variety Trials conducted in California confirmed 'USDA-ARS Parpareil's' exceptional performance. Beyond its high nut yields, 'USDA-ARS Parpareil' boasts a host of desirable traits such as an early harvest, a high crackout rate, and minimal issues with doubles, twins, and creases. Its kernels are light, smooth, and sweet, with hulls that open fully, simplifying harvest. These combined qualities make 'USDA-ARS Parpareil' a highly anticipated addition for almond nurseries and farmers.

Technical Abstract: ‘USDA-ARS Parpareil’ is a new almond (Prunus dulcis L.) cultivar developed by the USDA-Agricultural Research Service plant breeding program in Parlier, CA, and released to the public for propagation. The new cultivar is self-compatible and requires no other pollen sources to facilitate pollination and fruit set. Compared to ‘Nonpareil,’ California’s leading almond cultivar, ‘USDA-ARS Parpareil’ blooms a few days later, whereas shuck split occurs a few days before that of ‘Nonpareil,’ making for a slightly earlier harvest. In the 2014-planted third generation of Regional Variety Trials in California, ‘USDA-ARS Parpareil’ yielded very well compared to other self-compatible accessions, and kernels were shown to be relatively free of defects. The new cultivar cracks easily and with minimal damage to kernels. Kernels of this new cultivar resemble ‘Nonpareil’ in shape and appearance based on a linear discriminant analysis using 16 kernel characteristics.