Evaluation of Vaccinium arctostaphylos selections from the Artvin and Trabzon Provinces of Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate morphological and pomological characteristics of some little known blueberry types in Turkey during 2003-2006. Caucasian whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) populations were collected from the coast area to high altitude in Trabzon and Artvin. The plant habit was generally shrub; growth habit was erect or prostrate; condensation wax on berries was high; berries were round, oblate or ovoid; berry taste ranged from sour to sweet; berry weight was 32.08-100.5 g/100 berries; total soluble solid was 7.43-13.5%; cluster number of per plant was between 1 and 6. These wild selections will be evaluated in more detail.