Evaluation of Fruit Characteristics of Bitter Almond (Prunus dulcis var. amara) Genotypes Selected from Hilvan District of Şanlıurfa

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fruit characteristics of selected bitter almond genotypes in Hilvan district of Şanlıurfa, Türkiye. The study was conducted in 2015-2016 and examined 18 bitter almond genotypes grown from seed. Fruit characteristics were determined, including the weight of shelled and kernel almonds, size and various physical properties. The weight of the shelled almonds ranged from 2.20 g to 6.21 g, while the kernel weight ranged from 0.50 g to 1.04 g. The width, length and height of the shell fruits ranged from 15.92 to 24.32 mm, 24.43 to 40.68 mm and 11.29 to14.88 mm, respectively, while the width, length and height of the kernel fruits ranged from 8.90 to 13.57 mm, 17.45 to 28.85 mm and 4.51 to 6.68 mm, respectively. The shape of the kernels was predominantly classified as medium-wide and flat. A weighted scoring method was used to assess the overall quality of the fruit, with scores ranging from 536 to 624 points. In this study, further research is recommended to evaluate the properties of the rootstock of the genotypes and explore their potential in various industries such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food. It is expected that this study will contribute to a better understanding of bitter almond diversity and thus provide important support for future breeding efforts.