Comparison of Fruit Quality Characteristics of Çakıldak, Palaz and Tombul Hazelnut (Corylus colurna L.) Varieties Grown at Different Altitudes of Ordu Province

The hazelnut, which is known to be among the homelands of Anatolia, has been grown in our country for centuries. Hazelnut cultivation in Turkey dates back to ancient times. In the province of Ordu, the hazelnut varieties Çakıldak, Palaz and Tombul are mainly cultivated but other varieties are also grown. This study was carried out between 2022-2023 to determine the effects of altitude and location difference on the fruit characteristics of hazelnut varieties Çakıldak, Palaz and Tombul grown in Fatsa (300 m), İkizce (590 m) and Kumru (400 m) districts of Ordu province. In the study, the lowest average values for nut and kernel fruit weight, nut and shell thickness and kernel size were obtained from trees at 400 m altitude, while the highest values were obtained from trees at 590 m altitude. According to the results, the altitude had a different effect on the weight of the nuts and kernels depending on the variety. While the weight of nuts and kernels increased with increasing altitude in Çakıldak and Palaz varieties, these values decreased in Tombul variety. As a result some fruit quality characteristics of hazelnut varieties grown at different altitudes in Ordu province were found to be different.