Wild Vaccinium Species in Turkey

Turkish flora has several species of Vaccinium and Ericaceous.  Wild Vaccinium and Ericaceous plants grow naturally in the Southeastern part of the Black Sea Region of Turkey.  This region is one of the main gene centers of Caucasian whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idea) and bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum). These wild Vaccinium species have different distribution areas mostly correlated with elevation.  Although blueberry cultivation in the region was initiated by Dr. Huseyin Celik, there is no commercial cultivation for these wild species in Turkey.  However, for centuries inhabitants of the Black Sea Region have picked the berries of these wild species from forests and plateaus. These berries are used as fresh or frozen fruits and/or to make jelly, jam or juice.  In this presentation, we will summarize the wild phenological characteristics, berry chemicals and germplasm of some wild Vaccinium and Ericaceous species, their distributions and plant and fruit characteristics.  We will also present some unique horticultural characteristics of these wild species, such as cyclic-flowering, which might be of value for blueberry cultivar improvement.