Determination of phenological, morphological and pomological characteristics of black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) genotypes grown in Yozgat province

This study was carried out in 2023 to determine the phenological, morphological and pomological characteristics of 11 black mulberry (Morus nigra) genotypes selected from Yozgat province. As a result of phenological observations, bud swelling time was recorded as April 17-May 10, flowering time as April 24-May 17 and harvest date as June 16-July 14. In the measurements made on leaf characteristics; leaf width was determined as 6.06-13.18 cm, leaf length as 9.38-17.38 cm, leaf petiole length as 2.10-4.66 cm and leaf petiole thickness as 1.23-2.72 cm. In addition, leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) varied between 31.08-42.48 and anthocyanin content (ACI) varied between 4.92-11.37. As a result of pomological analyzes carried out on the fruit; fruit weight was measured as 2.62-4.09 g, fruit width as 13.16-17.00 mm, fruit length as 18.35-25.00 mm, fruit stem length as 3.32-9.50 mm and fruit stem thickness as 0.66-1.68 mm. In fruit color measurements, L value was found to be 15.49-21.99, a value was found to be 1.61-17.85 and b value was found to be 1.29-7.42. It was observed that the TSS value of the fruits varied between 10.05-22.00%, pH value between 3.65-5.87, titratable acidity between 0.77-2.9%, vitamin C content between 13.99-24.00 mg.100g-1, total phenolic substance amount between 417.27-972.54 mgGAE.100g-1 and antioxidant content between 129.71-178.37µgAAE.ml-1. As a result of the modified weighted ranking, the genotypes received scores between 370-870. It was determined that there is hope that the selected genotypes are important in terms of protection, multiplication and presentation to producers and guiding future studies. The genotypes 66MSB03, 66ÇKR04 and 66MSB01, which received the highest scores in the selection study, were recommended to producers.