Abstract:By analyzing the pulp,kernel and sweet/bitter characters of apricot in the Pamir Plateau of Xinjiang, the fruit characteristics of apricot in human domestication and cultivation were analyzed, and elite germplasm in cold region was identified. In this study, 15 qualitative traits, 20 quantitative traits and amygdalin content of 60 apricots from six townships in Tashkurgan County were measured, and identified by the correlation analysis, principal component analysis and comprehensive evaluation. The results showed that the altitude distribution of 60 apricot germplasm ranged from 2329.5 to 2730.0 m. 80.00% of the apricot fruits are sweet, and 96.67% have fuzz. The average soluble solid content of 60 germplasm resources was 16.07%, and 61.67% of germplasm resources showed soluble solid content over 15.00%. The taste of almonds is mainly sweet, and the flesh is mostly nucleated. The variation coefficients of 13 quantitative traits of stone ranged from 8.66% to 22.00%. The content of amygdalin ranged from 0.41 to 14.59 mg/g. 78.33% of germplasm resources were sweet kernel with the amygdalin content from 0.41 to 2.24 mg/g, while 21.67% of germplasm resources were bitter kernel with the amygdalin content from 2.76 to 14.59 mg/g. The correlation analysis showed that single fruit weight was positively correlated with 10 traits such as fruit length, and negatively correlated with stone rate. Principal component analysis showed that the cumulative variance contribution rate of the first five principal components was 83.255%. The traits such as single fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, single stone weight, stone-form index, fruit-form index, kernel rate, stone rate and stone thickness might represent the basic information of these 20 quantitative traits. Kuke 9, Kuer 11, Qiru 16 and Kuke 13 were excellent resources in cold areas through comprehensive evaluation. The high soluble solid and sweet kernel of fruit were important target traits for human domestication and introduction in apricot.