DETERMINATION OF THE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURALLY GROWING HAWTHORN IN SUSEHRI

The study was conducted in 2017 in the district of Sivas. In the study, 20 genotypes, which are considered to be different from each other, taking into account the fruit characteristics such as color and size and shape, were determined from the hawthorns that were naturally grown in the flora of Susheri. At harvest time, the fruit, which would be adequate for pomological and biochemical measurements and analyzes, was harvested. According to the results of the measurements and analyzes in the study, fruit weight was found to vary between 0.68 g and 6.35 g, fruit width was between 10.52 and 29.48 mm and fruit length was between 11.40 and 20.67 mm. The highest firmness values were recorded with the genotype (G) 20 genotype, while the G4 had the lowest values in terms of the firmness values of the fruit flesh. While there are no significant differences between the pH values of the genotypes, the differences between the genotypes in terms of SSC, TA and vitamin C contents are quite significant. It has been found that there are significant differences between the genotypes in terms of total phenolic, total flavonoid and antioxidant activity. The total phenolic content ranged from 218.8 (G17) to 605.8 (G5 and G8) mg GAE kg(-1) f.w., while the lowest total flavonoid content was 21.58 (G 17) and the highest total flavonoid content was 67.75 (G9) mg GAE kg(-1) f.w. When the antioxidant activity was evaluated, the DPPH values were 1.08 (G17) - 15.43 (14) mmol TE kg(-1) f.w., the FRAP values were 15.43 (G16) - 47.23 (G8) mmol TE kg(-1)f.w. respectively.