Plum culture in Turkey

Turkey has different nine agro-ecological regions because of its geographical location in the north hemisphere, and its location between Asia and Europe. The agro-ecological regions of Turkey are diverse and affected by geographical agents containing mountains, valleys, plains, rivers and lakes. There are big forests and woodlands including different wild plum genotypes in different parts and especially in their transition regions in Turkey. Anatolia is one of the genetic centers for species of Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., P. insititia L., P. spinosa and P. domestica L. Plum trees have been grown almost in all regions of Turkey with mentioned species especially P. cerasifera and P. domestica. Production of P. salicina cultivars has been increased in the last two decades mainly in Aegean, Mediterranean and their transition regions. Stone fruits comprise about 20% of the total fruit production, and plum production is about 12.5% of stone fruit in Turkey. Mainly seed of wild Prunus cerasifera and also Myrabolan B have been used for seedling propagation in Turkey. Recently, there is a high increase in the use of some micro-propagated clonal rootstocks. In Turkey, there is a wide consumption for plums including mainly fresh consumption before maturation called as can plums and table, on the other hand for dried, canning and jams.