Investigation of Pomological and Morphological Traits of Some Peach (Prunus persica L.) Cultivars and Local Genotypes Grown in Çanakkale Ecological Conditions

The peach is a widespread and economically important fruit species all over the world. Due to its genetic diversity and the suitability of its ecological conditions, Türkiye is a leading country in the production of peaches. The temperate climate and fertile soils of Çanakkale provide an optimal environment for the cultivation of local peach genotypes. The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the pomological and morphological traits of local peach genotypes grown in Çanakkale with the standard peach cultivars according to the criteria of UPOV TG/53/7 Rev. 2. The materials employed in this study included the standard cultivars Glohaven, Cresthaven, Şentürk, and J.H. Hale as well as the local genotypes Black Abdos and Sırrı. The analysis revealed a range of fruit width (52.17–75.64 mm), fruit weight (74.47–225.73 g), stone weight (5.56–12.28 g), flesh firmness (0.91–2.91 N), and soluble solids content (9.16%–12.16%) in the samples. The leaf areas ranged from 3672.190 to 5271.610 mm², which showed a considerable variation. In accordance with the criteria set forth by the UPOV, the leaf margins of the Black Abdos cultivar were observed to exhibit a serrated morphology, while the other cultivars displayed a crenate morphology. The nectarines of Black Abdos and Sırrı were observed to be reniform and present in two numbers. Additionally, the leaf bases of all genotypes were observed to be pointed. These findings provide invaluable insights for the conservation of genetic resources, the development of novel cultivars, and the improvement of production efficiency, while simultaneously guiding the preservation of regional diversity and the formulation of market-oriented production strategies.