Morphological and chemical diversity among hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) genotypes from Turkey

Anatolia had been known to have rich hawthorn gene pool including diverse genotypes adapted to different local conditions in different regions of the country. Long-term seed propagation and also human selection revealed a great diversity of hawthorn plants in Anatolia. In this study, the morphological (fruit weight, dimensions, fruit skin color, flesh/seed ratio, plant habits and thorn situation) and chemical (pH and soluble solid content) characteristics of 21 selected hawthorn genotypes belongs to Crataegus monogyna ssp. monogyna Jacq, Crataegus monogyna ssp. azarella Jacq, Crataegus pontica K. Koch, Crataegus orientalis var. orientalis Pallas Ex Bieb, Crataegus pseudoheterophylla Pojark, Crataegus meyeri Pojark, Crataegus aronia var. dentata Browicz, Crataegus aronia var. aronia Browicz, C. x bornmuelleri Zabel and Crataegus aronia L. had been determined. A wide variation was found among genotypes in both intra and inters level on most of morphological and chemical properties. Fruit weight varied from 0.65 to 4.19 g among genotypes. Fruit skin color were determined as light green, yellow, light orange, orange, red and dark red. SSC (soluble solid content) of genotypes ranging from 6.40 to 16.0%. In general, most of the genotypes had tree form and also had various degree of thorn on its plants.