Türkiye hosts many important fruit species due to its geographical location and ecology. Hawthorn, which is highly beneficial for human health, is one of these significant fruit species. In the present study, 125 accessions of Crataegus azarolus L. were identified from different regions of hawthorn germplasm in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Türkiye in 2022 and 2023. This study was conducted to detect the morphological, pomological, and molecular genetic variations of the accessions. The examined accessions showed significant differences in morphological and pomological aspects (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Among the accessions, the pH varied from 3.02 (‘G75’) to 3.99 (‘G55’), the soluble solids content changed between 8.19 (‘G108’) and 21.98 °Brix (‘G1’), the titratable acidity ranged from 0.69 (‘G3’) to 2.29% (‘G37’), and the ripening index varied from 4.33 (‘G107’) to 29.90 (‘G3’). Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that fruit traits made the greatest contribution to the diversity among accessions, followed by leaf traits. In the scope of molecular analysis, a total of 195 bands were obtained from 15 inter simple sequence repeat primers (ISSR), and 191 of these bands were found to be polymorphic. The polymorphism rate ranged from 75 to 100%, with an average rate of 97.20%. The similarity index of the accessions ranged from 0.72 to 0.90. According to the quantitative data set, we identified twenty accessions (‘G21’, ‘G117’, ‘G104’, ‘G17’, ‘G11’, ‘G124’, ‘G23’, ‘G10’, ‘G125’, ‘G30’, ‘G2’, ‘G38’, ‘G115’, ‘G4’, ‘G111’, ‘G8’, ‘G35’, ‘G106’, ‘G97’, and ‘G52’, respectively) with superior qualities that can be used as parents in breeding programs or selected directly for cultivation. It is believed that the findings from the studied accessions will provide valuable guidance for researchers aiming to understand the characteristics of hawthorn species and incorporate relevant genetic material or traits into modern plant breeding programs. In addition, the study is expected to make significant contributions to the literature on the evaluation and conservation of hawthorn genetic resources.

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.; Fabaceae) a unique tree is valued not only for its fruits and timber but also for its shade, making it a popular avenue tree. It thrives in diverse climates and soils, particularly in semiarid regions, due to its deep root system, making it valuable in areas prone to water scarcity and high temperatures. It is now extensively grown in subtropical and semi-arid tropical regions of the world particularly common in India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In this study, the morpho-physico-chemical variations of 30 tamarind genotypes were evaluated using multivariate analysis based on 28 variables which is essential for tree improvement. This study characterizes a collection of 30 tamarind genotypes based on a range of qualitative and quantitative traits to assess phenotypic diversity. The analysis revealed wide variation across most of the traits, indicating their potential for distinguishing germplasm diversity. High phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were observed for tree height (24.34 and 21.26), stem girth (26.63 and 23.72), tree spread E-W (23.50 and 21.68), tree spread N-S (27.46 and 24.38), pod yield kg/tree (29.98 and 27.56), pod length (25.29 and 24.51), pod breadth (22.08 and 21.92), pulp weight (30.49 and 28.58), and pod weight 31.03 and 29.74), which indicates these traits display high variation, suggesting significant potential for selection. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance were observed for the most of traits which were influenced by additive or fixable genetic variation. Path coefficient analysis revealed that traits, such as stem girth and tree spread showed direct effects on pod yield, while other characters contributed indirectly. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that PC-1 accounted for approximately 27.648% of the total variance, followed by PC-2 (18.250%), and PC-3 (15.835%), and hierarchical clustering uncovered crucial genetic components and distinct clusters, which can be considered for targeted breeding strategies. Cluster II emerged as the most divergent cluster, due to its the highest inter-cluster distances with other clusters and the highest intra-cluster distance. The results demonstrate how varied germplasm might be used to improve tamarind cultivars. To overcome heterogeneity in desired features, a complete collection of 28 morphological descriptors is provided to characterize, evaluate, and identify tamarind genotypes. The results underscore the importance of phenotypic diversity for developing core collections with enhanced variability and for designing targeted tamarind tree breeding strategies. This study provides valuable insights for the improvement and conservation of tamarind germplasm, a valuable species with considerable potential for fruit production and other economic uses. Not applicable. Not applicable.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) nuts are among the most popular nuts. The pistachio cultivars are tolerant to both drought and salinity, which is why they are extensively grown in the arid, saline, and hot regions of the Middle East, Mediterranean countries, and the United States. This study evaluated the agronomic and chemical characteristics of 10 pistachio cultivars (‘Abbasiali’, ‘AhmadAghaei’, ‘Akbari’, ‘Chrook’, ‘Fandoghi’, ‘KalehGhoochi’, ‘Momtaz’, ‘Rezaei’, ‘Sefied’, and ‘Shahpasand’). Total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, fruit mineral elements, soluble protein content, kernel-oil content, and fatty-acid composition were determined in 60 fruits (20 fruits per replication). Leaf mineral elements were determined in 450 leaves (150 leaves per replication). Significant differences were observed (p < 0.05) among the cultivars, with the coefficient of variation (CV) ranging from 1.03 (unsaturated fatty acids) to 115.16% (early nut splitting). Flower buds varied from 4 (‘AhmadAghaei’) to 7 (‘Momtaz’), and fruit per bunch ranged from 11 (‘Abbasiali’) to 21 (‘Momtaz’). Hull percentage ranged from 36.8 (‘KalehGhoochi’) to 43.1% (‘Chrook’), and nut percentage ranged from 56.3 (‘Chrook’) to 62.4% (‘KalehGhoochi’). Iron content in leaves ranged from 267 (‘Chrook’) to 367 mg/kg (‘Rezaei’), while iron in fruits ranged from 65.72 (‘Fandoghi’) to 81.90 mg/kg (‘Sefied’). Total phenolic content varied from 99.9 (‘Rezaei’) to 184.30 mg/g (‘Fandoghi’), and antioxidant activity ranged from 39.14 (‘Shahpasand’) to 82.89% (‘Sefied’). Oil content ranged from 49.26 (‘Rezaei’) to 67.72% (‘AhmadAghaei’), with oleic acid between 48.4 (‘Rezaei’) and 55.55% (‘KalehGhoochi’). Leaf phosphorus positively correlated with split nut percentage (r = 0.669) and negatively with blank nut percentage (r = -0.734). Fruit potassium strongly correlated with total phenolics (r = 0.917) and oleic acid (r = 0.654). Multiple regression analysis showed that blank nut percentage was negatively correlated with leaf zinc (β = -0.77) and positively with antioxidants (β = 0.77). Early nut splitting showed a negative correlation with antioxidants (β = -0.72). The first three principal components (PC1 = 22.48%, PC2 = 18.15%, PC3 = 15.82%) explained 56.45% of the total variation. Heat map analysis using Ward clustering revealed cultivar groupings based on traits like nutrient content and fatty acid composition. The findings obtained in this study allow producers to select the most suitable cultivars for obtaining more efficient and high-quality products. Additionally, choosing cultivars based on environmental factors and market demands contributes to the development of more effective production strategies. The ultimate goal is to provide insights that guide the selection of pistachio cultivars optimized for both agricultural sustainability and market-specific requirements.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a highly diverse species with significant variation in morphological and pomological traits. Characterizing this diversity is essential for improving breeding strategies, particularly to enhance fruit quality, yield, and consumer acceptance. This study used statistical tools, including correlation matrix analysis (CMA), principal component analysis (PCA), multiple regression analysis (MRA), and heat map analysis (HMA) to explore trait clustering and genotype differentiation. PCA revealed that the first three components accounted for 31.54% of the total variation. PC1 (11.66%) was driven by traits such as fruit length (0.94), fruit diameter (0.93), fruit weight (0.93), and fruit peel weight (0.93). Heat map analysis grouped variables into four clusters, with traits like total soluble solids (7–22%, mean: 14.72% ± 2.99) and 100-aril fresh weight (19.34–49.46 g, mean: 32.51 g ± 7.93) being critical for marketability. Genotypes were divided into four groups, with subgroup D2 comprising ‘Karimabad-6’, ‘Karimabad-5’, ‘Karimabad-3’, ‘Karimabad-2’, ‘Karimabad-4’, ‘Sangan-2’, ‘Padik-4’, ‘Karimabad-8’, ‘Karimabad-7’, ‘Sangan-1’, ‘Padik-11’, ‘Padik-3’, ‘Padik-2’, ‘Sangan-4’, ‘Sangan-3’, ‘Padik-12’, ‘Karimabad-1’, ‘Sangan-9’, ‘Sangan-8’, ‘Padik-1’, and ‘Daman-9’. MRA identified significant correlations for key traits: fruit weight showed a positive correlation with fruit diameter (β = 0.66, p < 0.00) and fruit length (β = 0.32, p < 0.01), while fruit peel weight showed positive correlations with fruit weight (β = 0.92, p < 0.00) and fruit peel thickness (β = 0.12, p < 0.00). Total soluble solids showed a positive correlation with 100-aril fresh weight (β = 0.80, p < 0.00). These correlations, which were determined to be statistically significant by MRA, are supported by CMA. In the PCA biplot analysis, ‘Daman-2’, ‘Daman-5’, ‘Daman-7’, ‘Karimabad-4’, ‘Padik-9’, ‘Sangan-2’, and ‘Sangan-4’ genotypes were identified as outliers with extreme combinations of fruit traits, falling outside the 95% confidence ellipse, suggesting their potential for breeding programs targeting unique features. This study emphasizes the importance of fruit-related traits, including size, weight, and soluble solids, in genotype differentiation and marketability. Heat map and PCA analyses provided a comprehensive framework for clustering variables and genotypes, identifying actionable targets for breeding. Notably, ‘Sangan-1’, ‘Sangan-2’, ‘Karimabad-1’, ‘Karimabad-2’, ‘Karimabad-3’, and ‘Karimabad-4’ were identified as very soft-seeded genotypes, highlighting their potential for consumer-preferred traits. These findings contribute to improving pomegranate breeding strategies by integrating genetic diversity with agronomic and market demands.

The cultivation and trade of underutilized fruits are gaining prominence worldwide, largely on account of their capacity to contribute to a nutritious diet. Manila tamarind [Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth] is a fast-growing, nitrogen-fixing tree, with a fairly high tolerance to abiotic stresses. Despite significant potential in terms of food, fodder, timber, and medicine, it has largely remained an orphan crop. There is a dearth of systematic research on the exploration, conservation, and genetic improvement of Manila tamarind. Our study aimed to assess the genetic variability for commercially important fruit, aril, and leaf attributes in 22 diverse accessions of Manila tamarind comprising both white and red aril genotypes. Precise characterization of the existing genetic resources is a requisite for the commercial cultivation of Manila tamarind. The study was conducted with 15 white and 7 red accessions of P. dulce, which were planted in a square system of planting between and within row distances of 5 m each. One of the major contributions of the present study was that we examined genotypic variations in biochemical attributes, such as TSS, acidity, TSS: acidity ratio, total sugars, ascorbic acid, protein, mineral contents, and bioactive compounds; these factors significantly improve the nutritional value and eating quality of Manila tamarind arils. Most of the traits examined by us differed remarkably (p < 0.001) among the accessions. Some economically relevant traits, such as pulp weight, aril weight, aril total phenols, aril flavonoids, aril total antioxidant activity, and leaf flavonoids exhibited a high degree of variability, indicating the scope for the selection of elite genotypes and divergent parents for future hybridization programs. The highly variable values of total soluble solids (17.33–26.46 °Brix), acidity (0.54–1.07%), ascorbic acid (82.54-138.49 mg 100 g− 1), total sugars (12.45–18.81%), and aril protein (3.15–6.32%) recorded in this study broadly meet fresh consumption and aril processing standards for Manila tamarind. A significant finding was that Manila tamarind accessions differed greatly in aril mineral contents (mg/100 g FW), including potassium (220.44-334.33), phosphorus (21.63–62.34), and calcium (14.06–39.12). Overall, two red aril genotypes (CHESM-27 and CHESM-33), and three white aril genotypes (CHESM-4, CHESM-20, and CHESM-24) were found to be particularly promising in terms of pod and aril quality attributes. Our findings are expected to pay the way for commercial cultivation of elite Manila tamarind genotypes, and their applications in pharmaceutical applications. Future studies should aim to elucidate the molecular basis of genetic diversity and relationships in Manila tamarind.