FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL WALNUT (JUGLANS REGIA L.) GENOTYPES OF CATAK AND TASPINAR VILLAGES (CORUM)

This study was conducted to determine fruit features and select high quality walnut genotypes among the seedling walnut trees naturally growing in the villages of Catak and Taspinar (Corum) during 2008-2009. Fruit samples were taken from 40 genotypes. Then these fruit samples taken were analysed in terms of fruit features. In the selected genotypes it was determined that shell weight was between 7.83-0.22 and 11.44-0.34 g, kernel weight was between 3.75-0.15 and 5.06-0.12 g, shell thickness was between 1.00-0.04 and 1.95-0.07 mm and kernel percentage was between 36.64 and 55.01%. Shell height was between 33.73-0.29 and 40.77-0.53 mm, shell width was between 27.62-0.33 and 32.32-0.44 mm and shell length was 28.86-0.35 and 34.93-0.63 mm. 5 walnut genotypes in kernel colour were light colour. None of the analysed genotypes was not damaged by the cold weather. These walnuts genotypes were selected from a local and rich natural walnut resource.