Ruhsar Yanmaz

Morphological characterisation of white head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata subvar. alba) genotypes in Turkey

Abstract Crops belonging to the Brassica genus are widely grown in Turkey. Cabbages are one of the most important Brassica vegetable crops in Turkey. the aim of this study was to determine similarities and differences regarding morphological variation of white head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata subvar. alba) genetic resources collected from different eco‐geographical regions of Turkey. Data from field experiments conducted between 1999 and 2001 were analysed by multiple variance analysis. Cluster analysis based on 12 quantitative and 10 qualitative variables identified 10 groups. The dendogram was prepared to evaluate morphological similarity between the white head cabbage genotypes. Morphological variability is high among the white head cabbage genotypes of Turkey. As a conclusion, the genotypes evaluated in this study display a wide diversity of characters for selection and combination of interesting genotypes for important characters to obtain improved varieties.

Promising kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) populations from Black Sea region, Turkey

Abstract This study was carried out in the Black Sea region of Turkey between 2001 and 2004. The objective was to develop new kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) variety candidates for fresh consumption. In the first year, 127 kale populations were collected from different ecogeographical areas in this region. All populations of native kale genotypes were examined for morphological characteristics. From the following observations, 22 types were evaluated as superior using a weighting‐based ranking method. All populations showed a range of 15.9–21.9 cm for leaf length, 10.4–13.2 cm for leaf width, and 0.26–0.35 mm for leaf thickness. Leaf colours of selected types were dark green and very dark green, except for 61AK01. In the majority of populations harvest time occurred at 102 days and was classed as early. Range of the leaf number/plant was between 4.0 and 12.1. 52CA07 had the highest the leaf number/plant. At the end of this research, 11 types were selected as being promising for further breeding efforts. The other genetic resources were taken for preservation as breeding materials at Turkey Seed Gene Bank in Izmir‐Menemen.

Evaluation of variation in seed characters of Turkish winter squash (Cucurbita maxima) populations

Abstract Winter squash and pumpkins are two of the most important Cucurbit vegetable crops in Turkey. In this study, variation in seed phenotypes in 160 populations of Cucurbita maxima, collected from different regions of Turkey, was determined. The present collection showed appreciable genotypic variation in seed shape, colour, brightness, seed dimensions, and seed weight. Seeds displaying a wide elliptic shape (62.5%) were the most common in the collection. Most populations displayed a cream seed colour (46.9%), followed by white (25.6%), brown (20.0%), and tawny (7.5%). This study demonstrated that substantial differences in seed dimensions exist in Turkish winter squash populations. Seed length ranged from 15.0 to 25.7 mm, 7.6–15.5 mm for seed width, and 1.4–6.1 mm for seed thickness. For seed length to thickness ratio and seed width to thickness ratio, populations showed a range of 3.2–14.2 and 2.2–8.5, respectively. Data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA). PCA revealed that the first two PC axes explained 67.0% of the total multivariate variation. This evaluation of seed trait variability can assist geneticists and breeders to identify the populations with unique characteristics for inclusion in future breeding activities.