Determination of phenological, morphological, pomological characteristics and molecular structure of cactus pears (Opuntia ficus–indica (L.) selected from Adana and its surrounding

The study conducted on 31 cactus pear genotypes selected from Adana province and its surround in 2012. Phenological stages, pomological characteristics of genotypes were determined. The genotypes also morphologically and genetically characterized. Bud formation started from end of the March till mid-April and reached to full bloom stages during May and Jun. Beginning of fruit ripening defined in first week of the August. Pomological analysis was done using 10 fruit characteristics and data were evaluated statistically. Mean fruit weight was 80 g, mean seed number per fruit was 240. Genotypes evaluated using weighted ranking method was used and 01 Op 19 ranked the highest score. Morphological characterization was carried out according to the UPOV guidelines for cactus pear and xoconostles. 25 traits was used in order to carry out a cluster analysis based on the Euclidian distance and the Ward's method. 29 genotypes formed 5 groups of which similarity level is 90% and two genotypes defined as an independent group. Molecular characterization was conducted using 50 RAPD primers. Totally 248 bands were defined, 178 of them were polymorphic and 70 of them were monomorphic. Polymorphism rate was 71.77 %. 01 Op 04 – 01 Op 13, 01 Op 27 – 01 Op 34, 01 Op 06 – 01 Op 30 genotypes were closest genotypes to each other.