Investigation of phenological, pomological, physicochemical and molecular diversity in pomegranate genetic resources collected in Silopi district of Şırnak province

Many fruit varieties grown worldwide have been obtained as a result of selection studies. It is known that especially in countries where pomegranate production is intensive, variety development is done by selection method rather than planned breeding studies. Turkey, one of the homelands of pomegranate, has a wide genetic diversity. This situation provides a great advantage in terms of developing new pomegranate varieties. This study was conducted to determine the pomological and physicochemical properties and genetically define the local pomegranate genotypes found in Silopi district of Şırnak province. Fruit weight in the genotypes was found between 108,39 - 452,48 g. The highest fruit density (1,25 g/cm³) was determined in 73SLP22 genotype. The highest calyx width (24,78 mm) was obtained in 73SLP46 genotype and the highest calyx length (14,85 mm) was obtained in 73SLP50 genotype. Peel thickness showed a wide range change according to the genotypes. 73SLP49 genotype had the highest value (4,44 mm). Hundred seed weight changed between 60,75 g (73SLP07) - 22,10 g (73SLP20). Fruit internal weight changed between 203,32 (73SLP46) - 52,53 g (73SLP48). L* value changed between 44,98 (73SLP19) - 24,37 (73SLP16), Chroma value between 27,31 (73SLP20) - 15,67 (73SLP28), hue angle between 71,15 (73SLP13) - 25,15 (73SLP16) in the genotypes. TSS varied between 19,30% (73SLP16) - 13,90 (73SLP34 and 73SLP43), pH 4,05 (73SLP48) - 3,97 (73SLP37), TA 2,94% (73SLP47) - 0,60 (73SLP37). The average polymorphism value in the study was determined as 96,9. This shows that the pomegranate population with high genetic diversity was examined and the markers used were effective in the polymorphism value obtained. The average effective allele number (ne) was calculated as 1,51, the gene diversity value (h) as 0,31, and the Shannon index value (I) as 0,47.