The fruits of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) are rich in tannins, ascorbic acid, and anthocyanin and are mainly used for food and medicine. In the present study, phenotypic variation of 122 seedlings originated accessions of cornelian cherry was investigated to select the superior trees. Analysis of variance showed significant differences in the majority of traits measured among the studied accessions. Fruit length varied from 14.84 to 22.57mm and fruit width ranged from 10.31 to 16.71 mm. Fruit weight varied between 1.23 and 3.79 g and also fruit stone weight ranged from 0.19 to 0.59 g. In addition, fruit taste in the majority of accessions was sour, while red fruit color was predominant. Fruit weight was positively correlated with fruit length and fruit width. Fruit flesh percentage was found to be associated negatively with fruit stone weight and positively with fruit weight and thus they should be considered together in breeding programs. Cluster analysis grouped the accessions into two major clusters and revealed considerable phenotypic diversity in the germplasm. In conclusion, 21 accessions showed high values in terms of fruit quality traits and may be especially useful for cultivation and/or for developing cultivars with greater horticultural potential. In addition, the studied accessions may be recognized as representative gene pool of natural populations of cornelian cherry.
