Alata Horticultural Research Institute was established in 1967 however its history goes far back as an organization, Alata has been carrying out training, research and production activities with different names and organizational structures according to changing national situations under the authorities of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs since 1944. The Institute established on 2740 da land 35 km to Mersin and adjacent to Erdemli districts of Mersin where fertile land is scarce and concentrated in the narrow coastal strip.
From Mersin to Erdemli Alata Horticultural Research Institute is the last place where its manipulated and natural ecosystems are in balance. The Institute deserves attention not only from agricultural research perspective but also as a whole system. Almost half of The Institutes areas are covered by pine trees and maquis vegetation. Alata provides a good habitat for great diversity of flora and fauna including vulnerable, rare, threatened and endangered species. Along some 3500 m Mediterranean coastline turtles nest and richly vegetated sand dunes are situated. Central Taurus belt on the north contributes its physical and biologic properties.
1300 da agricultural land maintain cultivated biodiversity of citrus, subtropical horticultural crops, temperate zone fruits, and vegetable growing and breeding on open and under protected conditions, viticulture, and ornamental plants, medicinal and aromatic plants. There are apiculture activities and research as well.
Alata Horticultural Research Institute has been declared as a 1st degree natural side. In her future development institute aims integration of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use practices into the agricultural research activities.
Study Topics
Despite the fact that, regional duty areas of institute cover mainly Mersin, Adana, Osmaniye and Hatay in East Mediterranean region, its responsibility area covers all-over the Turkey. Main working topics of institute are citrus and other subtropical fruits, temperate fruits, vegetables, viticulture, ornamental plants, medicinal and aromatic plants and apiculture.
Main missions of institute are breeding and growing techniques in horticultural plants, improvement of high-yielding, high quality, disease resistant cultivars, growing techniques in protected cultivation and open field, conservation of genetic resources, post harvest technology, supplying stock material to the farmers, agricultural socio-economy studies and training and extension.
Ornamental plant studies are carried out to prevent losses on natural plant habitat due to harvest without production, introducing new opportunities to producers as well as determining plants for in-door and out-door use.
Research Studies
Nearly past forty years, combined with up-to-date methods of genetics, physiology, biotechnology, plant breeding and production; 190 researches were completed in different topics and served to use of our farmers.
Different breeding methods are used to improve new varieties of vegetables and fruits. One garlic, 3 peppers, 6 green beans, 2 lettuces and 2 squashes varieties have been improved and registered.
In addition to vegetable varieties, first time in fruit breeding in Turkey, 5 apricots varieties were improved with hybridization. Moreover, 3 completely seedless and 1 early maturing lemon cultivars developed with mutation breeding.
Laboratory Activities
Institute has different laboratory facilities such as Pomology, Biotechnology, Apiculture and Soil, Plant, Water and Fertilizer Analyses Laboratory. Biotechnology laboratory has services for fingerprinting, genetic mapping, cultivar separation, marker assisted selection, gene determination.
