Pomological characteristics of superior selections of European filbert -C. avellana L.- and Turkish hazel -C. colurna L.-

Eight selections of European filbert and Turkish hazel each were singled out for their prominent characteristics in an examination in Eastern Serbia over the 1998-2003 period. Coarseness, form and weight of nuts and kernels, as well as kernel chemical content, were analysed. Yielding potential was investigated as a proportion of nuts in filbert and hazel inflorescences. Average nut coarseness of the C. avellana L. selections was 18.0x14.7x12.6 mm, and of C. colurnaL. 16.3xl4.0x 11.0 mm, while average kernel coarseness was 13.3x9.1x7.6 mm and 13.9x 9.7x 6.5 mm, respectively. Nut weight of the former was 1.01-1.80 g, and of the latter 1.00-1.75 g, while kernel weight ranged 0.30-0.79 g, and 0.31-0.65 g, respectively. The respective kernel contents were 27.9-46.2%, and 30.7-40.8 %. The occurrence of shriveled nuts was minimal, appearing in six selections of C. avellana (0.8-3.1%), and five selections of C. colurna (1.4-5.7%). The pest Balaninus nucum was observed in only three selections of C. colurna L., ranging from 1.0 to 1.6 %. Oil content in the nuts of the selected C. avellana L. trees was 44.6-49.9 %, and 48.6-54.4 % in those of C. colurna L. Crude proteins amounted to 12.3-10.8 % and 11.7-10.4 %, and mineral matter content to 2.8-2.4% and 2.6-2.0 %, respectively. The selections of European filbert were found to have 4-6 nuts to an inflorescence. Predominating were two (29.4 %), one (26.7 %) and three (24.5 %) nuts to a single inflorescence. C. colurna L. inflorescences were found to contain 8-13 nuts. Most inflorescences had five (26.6 %), four (21.5 %) and six nuts (20.3 %). Selections 1, 5, 6 and 3 of C. avel-lana were found to be especially outstanding regarding most parameters, as well as selections 7, 3, 2 and 8 of C. colurna L