Abstract
Abstract Due to its diverse climatic conditions, Türkiye provides a suitable environment for the cultivation of many fruit species. This study focused on natural hawthorn (Crataegus azarolus), one of these fruit species, to select 94 different hawthorn genotypes collected from natural populations in Türkiye and determine their molecular and morphological characteristics. A significant variation was observed among the hawthorn genotypes in terms of the analyzed traits. According to the results of the molecular study using the inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker system, 178 polymorphic bands were obtained from 12 different primers (Invitrogen Life Technologies, USA), and the polymorphism rate was determined to be 100%. The similarity index for the genotypes ranged from 0.40 to 0.93, and the genotypes were completely differentiated from one another. In terms of fruit characteristics, there was considerable variation among the genotypes: fruit width ranged from 8.96 mm (genotype 72) to 29.75 mm (genotype 101), fruit length ranged from 9.19 mm (genotype 72) to 24.86 mm (genotype 101), and fruit weight ranged from 0.45 to 12.42 g. This study provides a foundation for developing hawthorn genotypes that will offer high productivity while conserving water and soil resources in arid and semi-arid regions by revealing the degree of genetic variation and the morphological characteristics of hawthorn genetic resources adapted to different ecological conditions in Türkiye. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that genotypes with superior traits can be utilized as genetic material in hawthorn breeding programs, medical research, and the development of new cultivars.
Published Version
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