Growth and Fruit Quality of Some Foreign Loquat Cultivars in the Subtropical Climate of the Turkish Mediterranean Region

Abstract

Loquat is an important fruit for the Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Four loquat cultivars (‘Kanro’, ‘Baffico’, ‘Dr. Trabut’ and ‘Gold Nugget’) were evaluated from 2001 to 2004. Growth, phenology and fruit characteristics were determined in Hatay, on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The trunk diameter and annual shoot growth were significantly higher in ‘Kanro’ than ‘Baffico’ and ‘Dr. Trabut’. The highest yield was from ‘Kanro’ and ‘Gold Nugget’. Harvest dates ranged from 18 May to 27 May. The earliest maturing cultivars were ‘Dr. Trabut’ and ‘Baffico’, while the latest maturing cultivar was ‘Kanro’. ‘Dr. Trabut’ had significantly higher fruit weight than ‘Baffico’. Mean seed weight ranged between 3.9 and 6.0 g and average number of seeds per fruit ranged between 2.8-4.5; ‘Dr. Trabut’ had significantly higher values than ‘Kanro’ for both of these variables. The flesh/seed ratio in ‘Kanro’ was significantly higher than ‘Gold Nugget’. ‘Baffico’ had the highest total soluble solids content while ‘Gold Nugget’ had the lowest. The results suggest that these cultivars can be grown in Mediterranean climate successfully. Adaptation of the cultivars to the region is most likely to increase the production and quality of loquat as well.