Biodiversity Ex Situ Conservation and Characterization of Cornelian Cherry Cornus Mas L Genotypes in Turkey

OpenAlex English

Turkey has a rich gene pool of cornelian cherry genotypes adapted to different local conditions in different regions of the country. Most trees are open pollinated seedlings of wild genotypes which vary widely in terms of productivity and fruit characteristics. Seed propagation and long-term human selection has also given rise to a great diversity of trees. However, this gene pool is threatened by genetic erosion. The purpose of this study was to determine biodiversity on fruit characteristics of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) germplasm established at Fruit Research Institute, Malatya-Turkey. The germplasm are consisting 41 genotypes previously selected from the most important cornelian cherry growing areas in Turkey. Twelve fruit parameters were studied in this germplasm to determine biodiversity. A wide variation was found among genotypes in fruit properties. Fruit weight varied from 1.4 to 9.2 g among genotypes. On average, the genotypes had 17% SSC content with the range of 11.3% (44–03) to 25.9% (44–27). In general most of the genotypes had various degree of red skin color, whereas two genotypes (44–03 and 44–17) had yellow skin color.