Pomological, morphological and molecular characterisation of some hazelnut varieties and genotypes

This study defines the pomological, morphological and genetic characterization of 16 hazelnut varieties and 64 genotypes. Pomological and morphological observations were carried out during two years using 30 descriptors. Obtained definitions were transformed to numerical data to perform dendrograms.RAPD and SSR methods were used in molecular characterization studies. 31 RAPD primers were selected from the initial of 100 and 18 SSR primers from the initial of 24. Among these methods, the highest polymorhism (%98) with SSR and followed by RAPD (%81). In SSR method, 118 bands were obtained and 115 of them were polymorphic. In RAPD method 213 bands were obtained and 171 of them polymorphic. Similarity coefficient in overall genotypes were between 0.12 to 0.98 in SSR and 0.64 to 0.97 in RAPD. Clustering position of the genotypes throughout the dendograms was basically related to the geographic origins.