Investigation of Genetic Diversity in Apple Scab ( Venturia inaequalis ) Isolated from Two Different Geographical Areas of Turkey Abstract Apple (Malus domestica) is a widely grown fruit in various climate types of the world and is exposed to the attack of many fungal disease agents during the growing period. One of them is Venturia inaequalis, which is probably the most important in terms of economic loss worldwide, which makes apple scab disease important in apple growing areas. In this study, the genetic diversity of apple scab in Bingöl and Isparta provinces has been examined, which represent the two extremes of Turkey in terms of apple production. The 18 isolates obtained from these regions and were amplified by PCR using 7 RAPD primers. Polymorphic bands of the isolates were obtained by subjecting to agarose gel imaging. The average number of bands per primer was determined to be 3.91, with the highest polymorphic bands obtained from OPF04 encoded primer and the least polymorphic bands from OPG15 encoded primer. According to the clustering analysis, the total isolate population belongs to 5 different groups. Significant privileges were not observed between the two regions’s isolates It is thought that RAPD primers have a certain level to determine the diversity but not high levels of intra- and interregional variation in the isolates of V. inaequalis.

Morphological and Biochemical Studies in Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) Roxb. Abstract Garcinia gummi-gutta, popularly known as Malabar tamarind or kodampuli is a tropical fruit tree species of high potential. Acidic fruits are used either in raw or pickled form. Fruit is highly prized for its anti-obesity property owing to high hydroxycitric acid content in its rind. Though generally cultivated for its fruits, the plant has multifaceted uses in paint manufacturing industry, as medicine, source of edible fat etc. The present study concerned comparative morphological and physicochemical analysis of two morphotypes of Malabar tamarind, which revealed significant differences among them. Fruits and leaves of these morphotypes had distinctive morphological features. A morphotype with higher rind recovery and fruit weight was identified for further crop improvement programmes. Further, dimethylsulphoxide was identified as better solvent for extraction of photosynthetic pigments, and hence could be recommended for future physiological studies.

Analysis of Genetic Diversity Among ‘Misket’ Apple Clones Using AFLP, SSR and RAPD Markers Abstract Knowledge of genetic relationship among genotypes is an important concern for utilization of germplasm resources in breeding. The need for knowledge in local apple cultivars is increasing and molecular marker analysis has contributed to understanding of the apple genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship between genotypes. Three different DNA-based techniques, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), simple sequence repeat (SSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were used for detecting genetic variation among the 30 local ‘Misket’ apple genotypes. A total of 423 bands amplified and 205 polymorphic band were obtained with three marker techniques. Thirty RAPD primers amplified 207 bands, of which 91 were polymorphic (40.1%), 10 SSR primers produced 33 bands and 26 of them were polymorphic (78.78%) and 5 AFLP combinations amplified 183 bands of which 88 were polymorphic (48.08%). The average numbers of polymorphic marker per primer combination were 17.6, 3.03 and 2.6 for AFLP, RAPD and SSR respectively. Our results indicate that SSR was less informative in characterizing closely related ‘Misket’ apple genotypes, compared with RAPD and AFLP markers. AFLP seemed to best suited for evaluating the genetic relationship among the apple genotypes. Closely related genotypes may require more than one marker technique. The findings will be useful to identify and evaluate the local growing apple genetic resources.

Crop Load Management with Blossom Thinners in ’Redchief’ Apple and Their Effects on Fruit Mineral Composition Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) and potassium thiosulphate (KTS) on crop load, fruit quality and fruit mineral content of the eight-year-old ‘Redchief’/M26 apple. Seven different treatments were performed in the study as ATS (1%, 2%, 3%), KTS (1%, 2%, 3%) and hand thinning (after June drop) except for unthinned control. Thinning treatments were carried out as single application in full bloom period. Hand thinning and 3% ATS treatments were the best practices to increase fruit quality (diameter, weight). The fruit set ratio among the applications varied between 13.20% (2% ATS) and 23.46% (1% ATS). Yield was lowest in 2% and 3% ATS. Thinning with ATS was found more effective compared to KTS. The lowest Fe, Cu and Zn elements were determined in 2% ATS application, and the difference between the applications in terms of other elements was found to be insignificant. Phytotoxic effect was not observed for any ATS or KTS doses. As a result, flower thinners can be used as an alternative to hand thinning to improve fruit quality in ‘Redchief’ variety.

Seasonal Root, Shoot, and Fruit Growth Patterns in Kiwifruit ( Actinidia deliciosa a. Chev.) in Central Chile Abstract A study was conducted in kiwifruit vines (Actinidia deliciosa A. Chev.) in three different locations in central Chile to characterize the seasonal fine root growth in relation to shoot and fruit development as well as accumulated degree days (ADD). Growth of young roots, shoots, and fruits were studied at weekly intervals over an entire growing season. Root growth (young root lengths) was assessed using rhizotrons. White roots, shoots, and fruits growth curves were plotted against time over the studied period. Root growth was compared with shoots, fruit growth, and ADD during the same period and the relationship between ADD and shoots and fruits growth was evaluated. Elongation began in late November, after the beginning of shoots and fruits growth, and presented a bimodal growth pattern with the first peak between the end of spring and the beginning of summer and a second peak between the end of summer and the beginning of fall. The onset of shoot growth occurred on almost 70 days earlier than fruit and root growth with 46 to 62 ADD. Flowering occurred 56 to 58 days after bud burst (DABB) and at 210 to 231 ADD. Growth pattern reflected the competition within the vine for available assimilates, with the strongest sink being initially the developing shoots and subsequently the fruits. Logistic functions, which accounted for 89 to 93% of the variance in the three sites, were fitted to the response of shoot and fruit growth as a function of ADD.

Effects of Rootstock and Interstock on Pollen Traits and Flowering Synchronization in Pistachio ( Pistacia vera  L.) Abstract An experiment was carried out in Khatam region, Yazd province, Iran from 2008–2016 where two popular pistachio rootstocks and one interstock were evaluated with one male scion to synchronize flowering period of the late flowering ‘Akbari’ as female and medium flowering ‘M1’ as male. In this experiment, ‘Badami-e-Zarand’ (B) and ‘Fandoghi’ (F) were used as rootstocks and ‘Akbari’ (A) as interstock and three grafting combinations were examined including B/M1, F/M1 and B/A/M1. In terms of flowering time, our results showed that the B/A/M1 combination could delay the flowering in male genotype and make an overlap of 6 days between flowering period of ‘Akbari’, as female and M1 as male pistachio (24–29 March). Rootstocks had no significant effect on flowering time of M1. Pollen tube length and growth rate was influenced by different grafting combinations while pollen germination percentage was similar between treatments.

Economic Structure of Quince Farms in Turkey Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the cost and profitability of quince cultivation. Sakarya, Bursa, Antalya, Bilecik and Denizli were the main materials of the research and data were provided from quince farmers in districts and villages where quince farming was intensively performed. The data were obtained from 204 farmers surveyed. The research area constituted 70.2% of the total quince production of Turkey in 2015. The data used in the research belonged to the 2014 production period. Production cost was calculated as 43898.22 TRL in the average of farmers and 2965.11 TRL per decare (0.1 ha) in the quince production activity. The average cost per 1 kg was 0.78 TRL, the sales price was 1.33 TRL/kg and the profit margin was 0.56 TRL/kg. The gross production value of the quince farms was calculated as 5082.91 TRL in the average for a decare. Absolute profit was determined as 1936.36 TRL for a decare and relative profit was 1.71. There was an increase with TRL112.70 in the absolute profit with the support of government to the farmers. And the relative profit was increased by 0.04 units. The most important cost element in quince farms was marketing. Suggestions for reducing this cost are the provision of producer organization, the increase in the number of cold stores, and therefore the use of cold stores with lower costs. It is important that it should provide various incentives to establish quince processing facilities for entrepreneurs and the support provided should be presented to more special products for the positive effects of the quince production on sustainability and profitability indicators.

Evaluation of Energy and Economic Analysis of Chestnut ( Castanea Sativa Mill.) Fruit Production in Turkey Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine and evaluate the energy use efficiency analysis of chestnut fruit production. The evaluation of situation was done for 2016 production season in Aydın province of Turkey. The agricultural input energies and output energies used in chestnut production were calculated to determine the energy use efficiency analysis. According to the study findings, the energy inputs in chestnut production were calculated respectively as 3175.20 MJ ha−1 (51.53%) chemical fertilizers energy, 1621.51 MJ ha−1 (26.32%) human labour energy, 675 MJ ha−1 (10.95%) petrol/gasoline energy, 450 MJ ha−1 (7.30%) farmyard manure energy, 213.11 MJ ha−1 (3.46%) animal labour energy and 27 MJ ha−1 (0.44%) transportation energy. Total input energy and output energy were calculated as 6161.82 MJ ha−1 and 70,800 MJ ha−1. The energy output/input ratio, chestnut fruit (yield), specific energy, energy productivity and net energy were calculated respectively as 11.49, 6000 kg ha−1, 1.02 MJ kg−1, 0.97 kg MJ−1 and 64,638.18 MJ ha−1. The performed total energy input in chestnut production could be classified as 40.73% direct, 59.27% indirect, 37.08% renewable and 62.92% non-renewable. Benefit-cost ratio was calculated as 3.29 for chestnut fruit.

Determining the Morphologic, Yield and Phytochemical Properties of ’Damaye’ and ’Nq-7’ Goji Berry Varieties Under Semi-Arid Climate Conditions Abstract This study has been conducted during the 2015–2016 period in Aksaray, with semi-arid climate conditions, with the purpose of defining the morphologic, yield and phytochemical parameters of ’Damaye’ and ‘NQ-7’ Goji Berry varieties. The trial was conducted with ‘Damaye’ and ‘NQ-7’ varieties in randomized blocks experimental design, with three repetitions and 10 plants in each repetition, tubed saplings in every 3 m × 2 m intervals, during the years 2015 and 2016. Morphologic and yield parameters such as plant stem diameter, plant crown height, plant shoot size, plant size, yield per plant, yield per decare, yield efficiency, 100 grain weight and phytochemical parameters such as antioxidant ratio, total phenolic matter quantity, C vitamin quantity, glycose quantity, fructose quantity and sucrose quantity were examined. In the study, year × variety interaction was found to be statistically meaningful at a rate of 5% in plant stem diameter, plant crown width, plant crown height, plant size, yield per plant, yield per decare parameters; while year was found to be statistically meaningful at a rate of 5% in plant crown width, plant shoot size and yield efficiency parameters. And in terms of phytochemical properties, the difference between varieties were found to be statistically insignificant. In 2015, the average plant stem diameter (4.01 mm), plant crown height (71.12 cm), plant size (84.27 cm), yield per plant (0.22 kg/tree) and yield per decare (47.71 kg/decar) values of ‘Damaye’ variety were observed to be higher than the ‘NQ-7’variety. In 2016, the average plant stem diameter (15.12 mm) and plant size (167.50 mm) values were higher in ‘Damaye’ variety, while the average yield per plant (2.12 kg/tree) and average yield per decare (468.29 kg/decar) values were higher in ‘NQ-7’variety. As for plant corolla height, both ‘NQ-7’ (114.73 cm) and ‘Damaye’ (105.06 cm) varieties were ranked first and statistically placed within the same group. In conclusion, in 2015 ‘Damaye’ variety displayed a better performance in terms of morphologic and yield parameters, while in 2016, ‘NQ-7’variety displayed a better performance. But in both years, yield efficiency and yield per decare values were higher in ‘NQ-7’variety when compared to the ‘Damaye’ variety.

Tocopherol Contents of Almond Genetic Resources from Eastern and Western Turkey Abstract This study was conducted in almond genetic resources selected from Eastern and Western Turkey. 71 (Prunus dulcis (Miller) D.A. Webb) genotypes were selected from Balıkesir (Western Turkey) and Tunceli (Eastern Turkey) districts in 2012. Alpha (α)-tocopherol, gamma (γ)-tocopherol, delta (δ)-tocopherol and alpha (α)-tocotrienols and total vitamin E content were investigated in the selected almond genotypes. 38 almond genotypes from Balıkesir province had alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, gamma tocopherol, alpha-tocotrienols and total vitamin E content to be from non detectable to 1164.36 mg kg−1 oil, non detectable to 130.03 mg kg−1 oil, non detectable to 81.38 mg kg−1 oil, non detectable to 1252.24 mg kg−1 oil, respectively. 33 almond genotypes from Tunceli district showed alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, alpha-tocotrienols and total vitamin E content to be between non-detectable and 1085.92 mg kg−1 oil, non detectable and 21.12 mg kg−1 oil, non detectable and 91.26 mg kg−1 oil, 0.86 and 1191.81 mg kg−1 oil, respectively. Delta tocopherol content was not detectable in almond genotypes selected from Balıkesir and Tunceli provinces. BKS-3, BKS-16 and TUN-15 genotypes showed higher tocopherol content in comparison to the other genotypes tested. We can say that these genotypes could be a useful source for the future breeding projects in developing almond cultivars with high tocopherol content.