An investigation of the relationship between reproductive growth and yield loss in hazelnut

This study was carried out in Samsun during a 2-year period to examine the relationship between reproductive and yield loses in the ‘Tombul’ and ‘Palaz’ hazelnut cultivars. In hazelnuts, male and female flowering occur in winter after the breaking of inflorescence dormancy. In the present study, growth of the ovary of the hazelnut started in April and continued until mid-June. At the time of flowering the ovary did not form. The ovule growth showed a rapid increase at the end of June. Change in the diameter of the ovary and ovule with time showed a simple sigmoid growth curve. Fertilization occurred during the period between mid-May and the beginning of June, namely, 3.5–5 months after pollination. At this time, the diameter of the nut was 9.54 mm. Twin kernel was not observed. The ratio of double kernels was close to zero. The time period from fertilization to harvest was 89 days in 1997 and 96 days in 1998 for Tombul cultivar. For the Palaz, this period was 84 days in 1997 and 86 days in 1998. The rate of pistillate flower clusters which dropped in April–May was more than those dropped in June–August.