Promising Cornelian Cherries ( Cornus MasL.) from the Northeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey

Abstract

The objective of this research was to select valuable genetic resources of cornelian cherry ( CornusmasL.) grown in Northeastern Anatolia, Turkey from 1990 to 1996 for fruit size and yield. Approximately 1000 seedling trees were examined and 224 phenotypes having a fruit weight of 2.9 g and yield per cm ²of trunk cross section area over 0.15 kg/cm ²were selected in the first years (1990-1992). Thirty-one of these, found to be superior, were selected and evaluated for fruit characteristics. The ranges of the measured fruit characteristics for the selected phenotypes varied from 2.9 to 5.2 g for fruit weights, 6.0 to 9.4 for flesh/stone ratio, 11.5 to 16.8% for total soluble solids (TSS), 35.6 to 106.3 mg vitamin C/100 g, 1.5 to 4.7% for total acidity (as malic acid) and 3.0 to 9.2 for TSS/acid ratio. These results suggest that the cornelian cherries selected may be suitable for commercial cultivation in the region. Many phenotypes were evaluated as promising for further breeding efforts.