Scientific Papers Series B Horticulture

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSFruit characteristics of the 39 genotypes thatwere evaluated in the field observations aregiven in Table 1. According to the results, thegenotype 3 has the highest value for fruitweight (36.42 g) and it is followed by genotype1 (31.28 g) and genotype 33 (30.31 g). Thelowest value for fruit weight was measured inthe genotype 29 (6.32 g).Studies in the literature carried out in differentparts of Turkey showed that the values of fruitweight ranged from 9.46 to 40.80 g (Ozkan etal., 1997; Bostan, 2002; Bostan and Islam,2007; Ercilsi et al., 2012).The highest values in terms of fruit lengthswere found in the genotypes 14 (40.12 mm)and 3 (39.74 mm). The lowest values weredetermined in the genotype 31 (20.69 mm). Inprevious studies, it was indicated that the fruitlengths ranged from 26.53 to 48.73 mm in thegenotypes selected (Ozkan et al., 1997; Bostan,2002; Bostan and Islam, 2007; Ercilsi et al.,2012). Our results are within the range of thevalues reported in the literature.The fruit diameters of analyzed genotypesranged from 23.10 to 42.65 mm. The highestvalue was determined in the genotype 3, as itwas true for fruit length. In the literature, it wasstated that the fruit diameters of identifiedgenotypes varied from 23.67 to 42.51 mm(Ozkan et al., 1997; Bostan, 2002; Bostan andIslam, 2007; Ercilsi et al., 2012). Our fruitdiameter results were almost similar to thesevalues.The width and length of calyx basin increasedwith the coarsening of fruit. For the width ofcalyx basin, the maximum value wasdetermined in the genotype 15 (23.33 mm) andfor the length of calyx basin, the maximumvalue was determined in the genotype 3 (12.94mm).The soluble dry matter contents of genotypesvaried between 8-18%. In the literature thesevalues ranged from 12.5 to 26% (Ozkan et al.,1997; Bostan, 2002; Bostan and Islam, 2007;Ercilsi et al., 2012).The pH value of fruit juice was found between3.62 and 4.76. These differences are notsignificant statistically.The values of titreable acid contents werefound between 2.35 and 11.93 g/l. Thesedifferences are not significant statistically too.150Ozkan et al., (1997) and Bostan (2002)determined the titreable acid contents asbetween 1.91 and 8.71 g/l. Our results arelinear with these findings except the genotypeof 39 (11.93 g/l).The maximum value of genotypes in terms ofseed weight was found in the genotype 2 (4.28g) and it was followed by genotype 4 (4.10 g).The lowest seed weight was found in the fruitsof the genotype 29 (0.92 g).Number of seeds in fruits was found above fourin all genotypes except the genotypes 20, 22and 36. On the other hand, the number of seedswas five in the genotypes 3, 32 and 39. Studiesin the literature showed that the number ofseeds were generally between 4 and 5 (Ozkanet al., 1997; Bostan, 2002; Bostan and Islam,2007).CONCLUSIONSIn this study, fruit characteristics of 39genotypes were investigated. Four genotypeswith fruit weight of 25 g or more, 6 genotypeswith fruit length of 35 mm or longer and 6genotypes with fruit diameter of 35 mm ormore were determined. These leadinggenotypes have the potential of being used indeveloping new varieties.In the study, 5 genotypes producing 17%soluble dry matter were regarded asoutstanding genotypes because of theirchemical composition and they also had highrate of titreable acid contents. This studycarried out in the natural growing area ofmedlar revealed that the genotype 3 waspromising in terms of the characteristicsevaluated in variety development.REFERENCESAyaz F.A., Demir O., Torun H., Kolcuoglu Y., ColakA., 2008. Characterization of polyphenoloxidase(PPO) and total phenolic contents in medlar(Mespilus germanica L.) fruit during ripening andover ripening. Food Chemistry Volume 106, Issue 1,p. 291–298.Baird J.R., Thieret J.W., 1989. The Medlar (Mespilusgermanica, Rosaceae) from antiquity toobscurity. Economic Botany. 43 (3), p. 328–372Bignami C., 2000. Il nespolo comune. L’InformaceAgrario, 25, p. 43–46Bostan S.Z., 2002. Interrelationships among pomologicaltraits and selection of medlar (Mespilus germanica