A New Cherry Laurel Cultivar: 'Odü'

Objective: 'Odü' is a new cultivar of cherry laurel developed for table consumption. The aim of this study is to describe the new cherry laurel variety and to reveal fruit characteristics. Materials and Methods: Before the study, 32 promising types were determined by the selection study carried out in the Black Sea region between 2007-2010. One of these genotypes was encoded with A19. The type was propagated by cuttings in 2010-2011 and, planted in a trial plot with 6 plants in 2012. Fruit bearing started in 2015 and the results of the research covered the years 2017-2019. Fruit, cluster, seed and leaf characteristics of the 'Odü' cherry laurel variety were observed and examined. Results: The fruit characteristics of the ‘Odü’ variety, including size, weight, and color, were carefully observed and categorized. The fruit weight was 2.68 g, the fruit size was 15.96 mm, the fruit stem length was 5.54 mm, the seed weight was 0.39 g, the cluster length was 12.17 cm, the cluster weight was 39.54 g, and the number of fruits in the cluster was 16.67. Leaf width and length were determined as 4.51 cm and 15.06 cm, and annual shoot length was 59.85 cm. Cluster length was "medium", number of flowers in clusters was “intensive”. Fruit size was classified as "middle", leaf shape was classified as "narrow elliptical". Conclusion: Cherry laurel is used as a fruit and ornamental plant. As a fruit, the 'Odü' cultivar is the first registered fruit variety in Türkiye and in the world. As an evaluation, the 'Odü' cultivar produces medium-sized fruits, with a dense cluster structure and light fruit color, characteristic of small to medium-sized trees. The following points can be suggested. The cherry laurel is a promising fruit species for our country as product diversity and alternative taste characteristics. Cultivar registration is commercially the first step for establishing an orchard and paving the way for production. This study and registration is important as fruit diversity in the Blacksea region.