Apple selection Bingöl and Malatya provincies and determining effects of the region on rural development

This pH.D study was carried out during 2015-2017 in Bingöl and Malatya provinces for two aims. The first aim of the study was to identify local apple genotypes naturally grown in Bingöl and Malatya provinces by selection breeding method. Subsequently, 31 genotypes in Malatya, 23 genotypes in Bingöl, total 54 genotypes were found in this selection study. These 54 genotypes were evaluated for the phenological, morphological and pomological characteristics. The flowering periods of apple genotypes were between 22 March and 22 April in Malatya, and 16 March and 22 April in Bingöl. The harvesting periods of summer type apples, four types obtained from Malatya and one type obtained from Bingöl were between 7-25 August. The others showed winter type apple characteristics and harvested during 5-31 October in Malatya and during 9 October-4 November in Bingöl. Two apple genotypes selected from Malatya were 90 and 70 years old, the others were between 16 and 30. The ages of 23 apple genotypes selected in Bingöl were found between 15 and 30. Among these genotypes, 44-YZ-02 (189,80g), 44-D-10 (188,29g), 44-D-09 (175,86g) and 44-AR-11(161,45g) selected in Malatya and 12-S-01 (150,60g) and 12-G-05 (145,99g) genotypes selected in Bingöl gave the highest fruit weight values. As a result of weighted evaluation method of the 54 genotypes, 7 genotypes among 31 obtained in Malatya and 4 genotypes among 23 obtained in Bingöl, total 11 genotypes were found to be the best genotypes with higher scores. Among these genotypes 44-D-10 genotype with 525 point and 44-YG-02 genotype with 505 point in Malatya and 12-S-01 genotype with 475 point and 12-G-05 genotype with 460 point in Bingöl were found to be the favorite apple genotypes. The privileged 11 apple genotypes selected by this method are recommended for cultivar register, protection, molecular characterization of the genotypes and to work on them for future studies as elite genetic materials. In the evaluation of apple cultivation in the experimented provinces for the economical and rural development of the region, an important symposium was organized in Bingöl under the auspices of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. The second aim of this study was to find out the effects of local apple growing in Malatya and Bingöl provinces on the rural development. For this aim, a workshop was organized in Bingöl in 2017 with all stakeholders especially with the attendance of the farmers in Malatya and Bingöl provinces. The evaluations were made and ideas were produced. As a result of the workshop 17 project ideas and 24 outcome suggestions were made and the positive effects of the local apple selection study and the workshop on the regional rural development were determined. Keywords: Apple selection, rural development, local apple genotypes