Blueberry Species Introduction, Selection and Cultivation Practice in Northeastern Part of Anatolia

The Black Sea Region of Turkey, northeastern part of Anatolia, is one of the main gene centers of several Vacciniums and Ericaceous plants. Caucasian whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) and lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idea) naturally grows in the forests and plateaus at the Black Sea Region of Turkey over the centuries by inhabitants. These berries are used as jelly, jam or fresh fruits. However, there is no commercial mean for these small berries in Turkey. The Black Sea Region is famous for tea and hazelnut production. Commercial blueberry production with northern highbush blueberries are commenced by Dr. Huseyin Celik at the beginning of the 20th century as an alternative growing and profitable plants to tea and hazelnut. For this aim, several adaptation and propagation studies established in the Black Sea Region of Turkey in different locations and latitudes. This paper summarizes the background of Turkish commercial blueberry culture, plantation statistics, locations, blueberry usage, wild blueberry germplasm, and some results of cultivar performance and propagation studies.