Pomological Characteristics of Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.) Grown in Rize A. Islam and E. Vardal Ordu University Faculty of Agriculture Department of Horticulture 52200-Ordu Turkey Keywords: Laurocerasus officinalis L., laurel cherry, local fruit, Turkey Abstract This study was carried out in the years 2005-2006, in Rize (Pazar). The aim of the study was to select the best quality types and local cultivars. The colours of the selected clones varied from yellowish purple to black, fruit weight was between 2.63 g and 5.65 g, total soluble solids were between 15.7% and 23.1%, fruit number per cluster was between 7 and 16. The fruits are mainly used fresh, dried or processed as jam and pickle. INTRODUCTION Turkey is a very important area for plant diversity. Many fruit species are grown and many different local or native fruit species and varieties are known. One of these is cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.). Cherry laurel originated in central and west Asia, southeastern Europe and Anatolia (Schquenberg and Paris, 1975; Ozbek, 1988). It is grown as a native fruit crop in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey, which is one of the origins of cherry laurel (Ansin and Ozkan, 1993). The main crops in this region are hazelnut and tea. Annual rainfall is 831 mm, distributed throughout the year. Annual mean temperature is 14.5ºC and annual mean relative humidity is 75%. Cherrry laurel is consumed fresh or dried, or in jam and marmalade, canned or pickled. Cherrry laurel is used for food additives as flavoring (Leung and Foster, 1996). The leaves and seeds are used in pharmaceutics. The glossy, dark green large and leathery leaves are very attractive. In early spring, single upright flower clusters are produced. The flower is small, white and born in erect panicles. The tree is also valuable for ornamental use as an evergreen broadleaf plant (Islam and Bostan, 1996). It is easily propagated by cutting (Ansin and Ozkan, 1993). Cherry laurel is an important fruit for the Black Sea region of Turkey. There are many local cultivars like Kiraz, Su, Vavul, Bal, etc. In this study, some pomological traits of cherry laurel were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tree and fruit characteristics of 22 local cherry laurel cultivars (RP 01 through RP 22 ) grown in Pazar, Rize (eastern Black Sea region of Turkey), in the years 2005-2006 were measured. Leaf width and length, petiole length and thickness, cluster length and weight were measured . The number of fruit per cluster was counted. Fruit weight, fruit width, fruit length, fruit stem length, fruit stem thickness, stone weight, stone width and length were also measured. Soluble solids (°Brix), pH value and titratable acid content (as % malic acid) were determined. All measurements were made on three replications, in 10 samples (fruit, leaf or cluster). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Cherry laurel is a vigorous growing species, evergreen tree, 5 to 6m tree high. Leaves are 13.8 cm long and 5.5 cm wide. The data of the 22 clones are recorded in 133 Proc. I st IS on Pomegranate Ed.: A.I. Özgüven Acta Hort. 818, ISHS 2009