Van Gölü Havzasi Cevizleri Bazi Pomolojik ve Kimyasal Özel- liklerinin Karşilaştirilmasi Comparison of Some Pomological and Chemical Characteristics of Walnuts Grown in Lake Van Basin

In this study, walnut (Juglans regia L.) genotypes grown in Lake Van Basin (Gevas, Tatvan, Adil- cevaz, Ahlat, Edremit, Ercis, Catak, Van Merkez) have been studied. The influence of different regions on the fatty acid composition, tocopherol content, selenium content, total carotene and some fruit characteristics were exam- ined. Walnut genotypes contained 4.98-6.77% palmitic acid, 0.050-0.12% palmitoleic acid, 1.88-3.93% stearic acid, 15.90-40.69% oleic acid, 40.95-59.98% linoleic acid, 8.92-17.81% linolenic acid, 0.17-0.27% behenic acid and 0.020-0.17% arachidic acid. The range of alpha tocopherol, gamma tocopherol, delta tocopherol, total carot- enoid and selenium of walnut genotypes were found to be between 1.69 - 7.91, 26.37 - 168.52, 1.32 - 12.15, 0.17 - 0.62 mg kg -1 , 11.95 - 64.52 ng g -1 , respectively. Linoleic acid was the most abundant fatty acid in walnut genotypes, followed by oleic and linolenic acids. Gamma tocopherol was the predominant tocopherol in walnut genotypes. Walnut genotypes grown in Lake Van Basin with higher unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols and selenium contents may be valuable for nutritional breeding efforts. In addition, stearic acid, linolenic acid, fruit weight and shell thick- ness were strongly affected by different regional factors. Keyword: Walnut, tocopherols, fatty acids, selenium, total carotenes, HPLC