@article{article_1792306, title={Evaluation of Wild Plum Species for Their Potential as Clonal Rootstock for Apricot}, journal={Erciyes Tarım ve Hayvan Bilimleri Dergisi}, volume={8}, pages={80–88}, year={2025}, DOI={10.55257/ethabd.1792306}, author={Uğur, Remzi and Özelçi, Duygu and Özelçi, Mehmet and Avci, Selçuk and Çöçen, Erdoğan and Şahinoğlu, Ali Rıza and Akgül, İhsan}, keywords={Kayısı, erik, Prunus, seleksiyon, anaç.}, abstract={This research was conducted between 2020 and 2024 in the Malatya and Elazığ regions, two important centers of stone fruit cultivation in Turkey, with the primary objective of identifying and selecting wild plum genotypes that could serve as potential rootstocks for apricot production. The study was designed within the framework of a systematic selection breeding program, emphasizing the evaluation of morphological and growth-related traits relevant to rootstock performance. A weighted ranking system was employed to ensure a comprehensive assessment of candidate genotypes, integrating multiple growth parameters into a unified scoring approach. In the initial stage of exploration and collection, a total of 159 wild plum accessions were identified and subjected to preliminary monitoring. Taxonomic classification revealed that these accessions comprised 37 genotypes of Prunus cerasifera, 16 of Prunus spinosa, 9 of Prunus divaricata, and 12 of Prunus domestica. This diversity reflects the rich genetic variation present in the natural plum populations of the studied regions. Following a two-year period of morphological and agronomic evaluation, 74 accessions displaying promising characteristics were retained as rootstock candidates for subsequent weighted ranking. Based on their cumulative performance scores, 64 genotypes were advanced to the Selection-II stage, thereby representing the most promising materials for further investigation and potential use in breeding programs. At the conclusion of the study, it was determined that approximately 50 of the 64 genotypes advanced to Selection-II exhibited dwarf or semi-dwarf growth characteristics, an attribute of particular importance for the development of rootstocks adapted to modern high-density orchard systems. The identification of such genotypes underscores the potential of wild plum populations as valuable genetic resources for rootstock breeding, offering opportunities to enhance both the sustainability and productivity of apricot cultivation in Turkey.}, number={2}, publisher={Erciyes Üniversitesi}, organization={Tarımsal Araştırmalar ve Politikalar Genel Müdürlüğü(TAGEM)}