Phylogenetic and phytochemical analyses on the genus Cerasus L. (Rosaceae) taxa in Turkey

The genus Cerasus is an important genus that includes species of economic value such as cherry (C. avium (L.) Moench), sour cherry (C. vulgaris Miller), mahaleb (Cerasus mahaleb L.) and some ornamental plants. 14 taxa distributed throughout Turkey (Cerasus prostrata (Lab.) Ser. subsp. prostrata, Cerasus. prostrata (Lab.) Ser. subsp. glabrifolia (Moris) Browicz, Cerasus brachypetala Boisse subsp. brachypetala, Cerasus incana (Pallas) Spach subsp. incana, Cerasus incana (Pallas) Spach subsp. velutina Browicz, Cerasus angustifolia (Spach) Browicz subsp. angustifolia, Cerasus angustifolia (Spach) Browicz subsp. sintenisii (Schneider) Browicz, Cerasus hippophaeoides (Bornm.) Bornm., Cerasus microcarpa (C. A. Meyer) Boiss. subsp. microcarpa, Cerasus microcarpa (C. A. Meyer) Boiss. subsp. tortuosa (Boiss. & Hausskn.) Browicz, Cerasus avium (L.) Moench, Cerasus vulgaris Miller, Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Miller subsp. mahaleb, Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Miller subsp. alpina Browicz) examined by molecular and phytochemical techniques. Within the scope of this thesis, 100 populations were sampled for species belonging to the genus Cerasus. The fact that some taxa have a single locality and some are endemic caused a decrease in the number of samples. As a result of molecular analysis, haplotypes were determined and that the diversity in the Anatolian diagonal high. Although phylogenetic analysis based on the chloroplast and nuclear genome data showed the proximity of the varieties to each other, it was determined that the chloroplast regions could not give the necessary detail about the separation. 2-hydroxy trans cinnamic acid was detected only in C. mahaleb taxa. Phlorizin was detected in C. hippophaeoides, C. prostrata, C. brachypetala and C. avium taxa. Resveratrol substance was also determined to be specific for C. avium, and unlike other taxa, it was observed that it not contain para coumaric acid. With a more detailed study, it was determined that chemotaxonomic data could be obtained from this group. It has been determined that are a good source of antioxidants, fruits can be extracted at a pilot scale with different extraction methods and polyphenols can be extracted at maximum level by this new generation extraction techniques.