Relationships between the number of nuts per cluster and fruit characteristics in the Foşa hazelnut cultivar

This research aimed to determine the effect of the number of nuts per cluster on the fruit characteristics of the Foşa hazelnut cultivar grown in the Arsin district of Trabzon province, Türkiye. Hazelnuts are divided into groups of 1 to 7 according to the number of nuts in cluster. Nut weight, nut length, nut width, nut depth, kernel weight, kernel length, kernel width, kernel depth, shell thickness, kernel ratio, husk length, husk width, and husk opening of the hazelnuts in each group were examined. Principal component analyses (PCA) was used to determine the relationship between the number of nuts in cluster and fruit characteristics. Nut weight, shell thickness, husk length, and husk width values were the highest values in single nut clusters. If the number of nuts in the cluster exceeds four, nut and kernel weights decrease. There was a negative relationship between the nut weight and nut length when the number of nuts in the cluster was above four. A strong relationship were observed in clusters 1, 2, 3, and 4, but a weaker relationship, was seen especially in clusters 5 and 7. A negative relationship was determined between the nut weight and nut length. This study clarified that increasing nut numbers shifts quality characteristics, particularly in a negative trend.