Determination of the pomological and moleculer characteristics of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) genotypes grown in inhisar county, Bilecik province

Pomegranate belongs to the Punica genus of the Punicaceae family. It is a tropical and subtropical climate fruit with high economic value and nutritional content, which has been produced and consumed from past to present. Many fruit varieties cultivated in the world have been found by selection studies. It is known that pomegranate varieties are obtained by selection studies instead of a planned breeding study in countries where pomegranate production is most common. In this thesis study, pomological and chemical analyzes of pomegranate genotypes grown naturally in Bilecik province Inhisar district and adapted to the local climate were made, and it was aimed to determine the molecular characterization of the best 13 genotypes selected by the weighed grading method using ISSR primary marker technique. As a result of the research, when the minimum and maximum values of the selected promising genotypes and cultivars were examined, it was determined that the fruit weight changed between 207,00-602,30 g, fruit width 74,54-104,47 mm, fruit length 62,08-93,32 mm, 100 grain weight 5,5-14,25 g, grain yield 34,48-86,00%, fruit juice yield 23,62-63,21%. The fruit taste was generally sweet, and the hardness of the core was determined as medium hardness. The soluble solid content was determined between 13,33-19,77%, pH values between 2,22-5,36%, and titratable acidity between 0,13-2,72%. Molecular analyzes were carried out with seven UBC-ISSR primers to determine the polymorphism levels among thirteen genotypes selected as a result of weighted grading and for comparison purposes, Fellahyemez, Katırbaşı and Hicaz pomegranate cultivars. The dendogram was divided into two main groups, one small and the other large, at 25% difference level. All local genotypes were collected in the large group and the closest similarity was determined in Genotype 9 and Genotype 10.