Research Information System
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS, vol.20, no.3, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study aimed to identify, collect, and conserve semi-oriental tobacco genetic resources. In 2022, systematic surveys were conducted across ten provinces in T & uuml;rkiye (Hatay, Ad & imath;yaman, Diyarbak & imath;r, Bing & ouml;l, Batman, Mardin, Bitlis, Mu & scedil;, Trabzon, and Burdur) where semi-oriental tobacco populations are distributed. Seed material representing 126 genotypes exhibiting substantial phenotypic variation was collected. Genetic diversity was assessed using nine simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and by morphological, agronomic, and chemical traits through two field trials conducted at the Tokat and Samsun locations. Dendrogram analysis based on SSR data revealed that the genotypes were clustered into eight major groups, with 82% of the population (103 genotypes) identified as genetically distinct. Field trials including the entire research material showed substantial variation among genotypes across all evaluated traits. Plant height ranged from 71 to 253 cm, leaf width from 18 to 37 cm, leaf length from 29 to 74 cm, and leaf number from 13 to 39 leaves per plant. Yield values varied between 1,109 and 4,643 kg ha(-)& sup1;. Chemical analyses indicated wide variation in reducing sugar content (0.4-25.8%) and nicotine concentration (0.2-3.4%). These results demonstrate that the material exhibits high genetic diversity accompanied by pronounced morphological, agronomic, and chemical variability. The semi-oriental tobacco genetic resources identified and conserved in this study contribute to global biodiversity and provide a valuable foundation for future tobacco breeding and genetic research.