Promising native summer apple (Malus domestica) cultivars from north-eastern Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract

This study was conducted on summer apple (Malus domestica) trees growing wild in the Çoruh Valley, north-eastern Anatolia, Turkey. The research material consisted of uncultivated summer apple trees. Out of 250,10 trees not infected by apple scab (Venturia ineaqualis) were selected. Fruit characteristics of these superior types were evaluated. The ranges of fruit characteristics determined for the selected types were: 49.5–152.2 g fruit weight, 42.8–65.3 mm fruit length, 52.3–75.7 mm fruit width, 10.3–13.8% total soluble solids, 4.88–7.44 mg vitamin C/100 g, 0.19–1.43% total acidity (as malic acid), 9.33–12.06% total sugar, and 6.31–8.94% reducing sugar. Some selections ripening in mid July should be compared with common summer apple cultivars for their agronomic characteristics or used as breeding partners for further breeding efforts. © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.