Morpho-chemical characterization of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) genotypes

Morphological and chemical characterization of loquat genotypes were carried out to select superior genotypes between 2018 and 2021 in the coastal region of the Black Sea. In the study, the description of 70 genotypes with 20 g and above fruit weight of loquat, which is grown as chance seedlings in the mentioned region, was done. From the study, it was found soluble solids content (SSC) between 6.95 and 18.30%, acidity (AC) 0.22-0.82%, SSC/acidity ratio (SSCAcR) 16.39-67.68%, pH 2.85-4.94, dry matter ratio 47.29-54.73%, fresh weight (FreWe) 35.13-103.76 g, and dry weight (DW) 20.78-85.59 g. Considering morphological characteristics, leaf width (LWi) was found between 5.41 and 12.71 cm, leaf length (LL) 15.63-41.22 cm, leaf length/width ratio (LLWR) 1.37-5.57%, petiole diameter (PD) 3.74-8.00 mm, petiole length (PL) 8.87-46.72 mm, and leaf area between 77.59 and 312.92 cm(2). A strongly negative correlation was observed between SSCAcR and AC (0.836). In contrast, significant positive correlation was found between DW and FreWe (0.636), pH and SSCAcR (0.544). In the case of chemical characteristics, the percentage of variances of components 1 to 5 respectively observed (29.13%, 20.37%, 14.96%, 10.84%, and 10.22%), which cumulatively encompassed 85.54% of variances. In the case of morphological characteristics, the correlation between LWi and LLWR (- 0.670), LL and LLWR (0.597), LWi and PD (0.311), LLWR and PD (- 0.312), PD and PL (- 0.260) obtained significant at P < 0.05. The percentage of variance explained by each principle component from components 1 to 4 respectively observed (28.54%, 22.18%, 16.06%, and 10.70%), which cumulatively encompassed 77.50% of variances. Finally, five genotypes, including GN10, GN14, GN50, GN68, and GN69, were determined superior among 70 genotypes. Based on the high "Weighed Rating" scores they received, they were suggested for further consideration.