Determination of antioxidant compounds, fruit cracking susceptibility and S allel genes in promising sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) progeny

Cherry is one of the fruit species that are loved and consumed all over the world and provide high levels of income to its producers. However, in the cultivation of old cherry varieties, there are important problems such as yield, quality and self-incompatibility. At this point, our country, which is an important cherry producer and exporter, needs to develop its own productive and high quality new varieties in order to maintain and increase its competitive power in the world markets. In this context, the breeding of cherry varieties has been initiated by the Eğirdir Fruit Research Institute (MAREM) through hybridization (0900 Ziraat X self-compatible or self-incompatible cultivars). In this thesis study, it was aimed to determine the self-fertility status and S-Allele incompatibility genes as well as phenological and some fruit quality characteristics (pomological properties, antioxidant components and cracking sensitivity) of the promising 27 cherry genotypes obtained as a result of hybridization in MAREM. The study was conducted between 2015 and 2016. In the study, the fruit set ratios of genotypes in field isolation applications varied between 0% -33% and 3-54% in free pollination. As a result of molecular studies, self-fertility allele (S4 ') was detected in 13 of the genotypes. Phenological and pomological features of genotypes have varied over the years. It was determined that there is a difference of 7 days between genotypes in terms of flowering time, and a difference of approximately 40 days in terms of harvest time. Fruit weight of the genotypes varied between 7.35-12.03 g, seed weights 0.32-0.48 g, stem weight 0.08-0.14 g, solids content 14.43% - 20.32%, fruit firmness values ranged from 5.85 N-10.86 N. The index values of the genotypes in terms of susceptibility to cracking varied between 6-82.33. In terms of antioxidant content, it was determined that the total phenolic values of the genotypes varied between 4.64 - 202.18 mg GAE g-1 FW, total flavonoid values between 36.01 - 262.41 mg routine g-1 FW, and total antioxidant activity values varied between 4.63-55.23 mg vitamin C g-1 FW.