Departments

Breeding and Genetics Department have concentrate on to develop commercial varieties and rootstocks in temperate fruits especially apple, pear, plum, sweet and sour cherry. Primary aims of our fruit breeding programs are fruit quality, productivity, earliness or tolerance to biotic or abiotic stress. Classical breeding techniques have been used in breeding studies such as hybridization, mutation and selection. Molecular applications are being installed for marker-assisted selection in apple for scab resistance. Department is consist of 14 staff which have master (7) and PhD degree (5).

The Fruit Research Institute fruit breeding program was initiated in 1996 on the sweet cherry (Clonal Selection in 0900 Ziraat Sweet Cherry Variety) and "Davraz" sweet cherry variety was registered in 2011.

Sour cherry (Development of Sour Cherry Rootstocks by Selection) rootstock breeding program has been carried since 2002 year. Some selections were collected during project and propagation and graft compatibility studies have been proceed in selected genotypes.

Apple breeding program began in 2005 for develop with high quality apple varieties by hybridization and mutation for producers of fresh-market fruits. And then in 2008, new crosses were planned for scab resistant except for first apple breeding program. Up to now, some genotypes have achieved and have been planted for further tree and fruit evaluations.

Pear variety development program resistant to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) has been continued since 2006. In 2012, the most interesting selections were grafted on the Quince A rootstock and planted for further evaluations.

Sweet cherry breeding efforts on self-fertile and with high fruit quality fruit at commercially profitable levels were initiated in 2008. In this context, some promising genotypes were selected.

"Development of Clonal Plum Rootstocks by Selection" and "Development of Dwarf and Semi Dwarf Apple Rootstocks Resistant to Fire Blight (Erwinia amylovora) and Root Rot (Phytophthora cactorum) Diseases" rootstock breeding programs have been started a few year ago. Nowadays, we are starting a new breeding programs in apple (variety) and pear (rootstock).

Breeding and Genetic Department also carry out to protection and characterization studies of fruit genetic resources as well as variety and rootstock breeding programs in the temperate fruits.

Studies funded by different organizations such as TAGEM, TUBITAK and BAP.

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There are 11 researchers in this department. 4 of them have a doctorate degree and 7 of them have master degree. Department conducts researches especially in temperate fruit species (apple, pear, cherry, peach, apricot, grape and berry fruits) and medicinal and  aromatic plants (oil rose, lavender, oregano, etc.) Briefly research studies are; variety introduction and adaptation studies, determination of suitable rootstock- variety combinations, developing different pruning and training systems determination of suitable propagation method for different rootstock types (woodcutting, green cutting, stoolbed layering, tissue culture), determination of suitable planting row distances, producing new protocols for tissue culture method, physiology studies (tolerance to salt or aridness), different cultivation techniques (organic production, good agricultural practices), developing new methods for nursery production (branched nursery, different grafting methods for nursery production),  the effects of plant growth regulators on fruit yield and quality, developing alternative methods for weed control. Department's research activities can be summarized like this.

In addition to research activities, our department makes education activities for technical staff and producers. All our researches activities are financed by TAGEM, Tubitak and Europe union framework budgets and with private sector's cooperation.    

​There are 6 agriculture engineers which have 2 doctorate degrees and 3 master degrees and 1 undergraduate degree, 1 laboratory technician, and 2 agricultural laborer in the department. Plant nutrition and irrigation issues are studied in temperate zone fruits (apple, pear, cherry, peach, apricot, etc.). In temperate zone fruits, the aims of plant nutrition studies are to determine to effect of nutrients and soil regulators on yield, fruit quality and plant growth, develop to the most suitable fertilization programs, determine to new methods and techniques in soil and leaf analysis, determine to suitable media and nutrient concentrations for growth of nursery trees in soilless culture.In temperate zone fruits, the aims of irrigation studies are to determine to the most suitable irrigation scheduling, develop to new methods and techniques for sustainable production by using less water (partial root zone drying, deficit irrigation, periodic deficit irrigation, mulch using, etc.), determine to level of resistance to drought and salinity stress and determine to Kc coefficients for all products grown in the region.

Fruit Postharvest Physiology Department under the Research Institute is working on the postharvest physiology in temperate fruit species. Horticultural products produced after intensive labour are not properly harvested on time, and serious losses are encountered after harvest when products are subjected to conditions that are not suitable until reaching the final consumer.

Postharvest Physiology Department is responsible for postharvest physiology research in temperate fruit varieties.

Temperate fruit varieties;

  • Determination of the correct harvest date of the products,
  • Pre-harvest and postharvest quality of therapeutic applications, examination of the effect on the physiology of the products after harvesting.
  • Suitable product-specific packaging, determination of the storage and transport conditions,
  • It conducts studies in order to examine and expand the applicability of postharvest new technologies,
  • Outputs obtained in the department are shared with the sector stakeholders on every platform.

In addition, the department provides services in special sector licensing-product activity tests and product analyses.

Postharvest Physiology Department carries out its research activities within the framework of projects financed by MAREM, TAGEM, TUBITAK, SPO, Private Sector, Development Agency and EU.

​There are 5 researchers have all of them master degree (2 entomology, 3 phytopathology) in this department.  Department conducts researches especially in temperate fruit species apple, pear, cherry, peach, apricot, grape, berry fruits, almond and walnut on diseases and pests. Briefly research studies are; diagnose diseases and pests, increase fruit species resistance to disease, pests and adverse environmental conditions while doing these tasks, such as biotechnology, basic and applied research using new techniques and technologies, diseases and pests identify mechanisms of resistance developed against losses to pesticides, integrated pest management, predicting and early warning systems, improve the effectiveness of pest control. In addition to research activities, our department makes education activities for technical staff and producers. All our researches activities are financed by TAGEM, Tubitak and Europe union framework budgets and with private sector’s cooperation.

​Staff:​​

In our section works 1 agricultural engeneer, 1 agricultural tecnician, 21 permanent agricultural workers and 17 temporary agricultural worker.

Fruit Production:

In our Station (Serpil and Central) is produced annually 250 tons apples and 50 tons other fruit (plum, cherry, peach, apricot, pear, quince).

Saplings and rootstocks production:

Annually about certified 100.000 saplings belonging to apple, pear, quince, cherry, sour cherry, plum, peach, nectarine, apricot, walnut and almond are produced. At the same time, about 50,000 clonal apple and quince rootstocks are produced. The rootstocks are sold to government agencies and the private sector.

Basic Material Production:

In 38 cultivars  (29 apples, 2 peaches, 2 pears, 2 cherries, 1 medlar and 1 plum) and 7 rootstocks ( M 111, MM 109, Myrobolan B, Marianna GF 8-1, Pixy, GF 677 and P. mahaleb) is given the authority to establish one number units. Saplings and materials production in basic levels has been started in 2012 and continues to increase. Our Station has 3 pcs. net greenhouses (to protect basic materials and 6x36 m in dimensions) and 8 pcs. plastic grenhouses (saplings production and to root cuttings)

EDUCATION PROMOTION AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES

MAREM attaches great importance to educational activities as well as research activities. In order to share the results of the research to the relevant sector stakeholders and various training programs for technical staffs and growers on various issues are organized every year by MAREM. In addition, many books, booklets, newsletters and brochures about the study subjects are prepared and presented to the users.

The institution provides internship opportunities for higher education students with practical trainings mainly based on field and laboratory studies and contributes to increase the equipment of future engineers.

MAREM has hosted many national and international events such as fairs, workshops, panels, symposiums and congresses.

Our institute promotes and publishes information and technology produced by its researchers in at least 2 fairs every year (Growtech Eurasia and Lake District Agriculture and Livestock Fair).

The first issue of the "Fruit Science" published in 2013 and the first scientific journal in the field of fruit is published twice a year and sector stakeholders are informed.


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YUKARI