Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.33128/pc.29.1-4.6
Morphological characteristics of natural populations of planika (Arbutus unedo L.) from the Zadar County area
Lovre Katuša
; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za ekologiju, agronomiju i akvakulture, Zadar, Hrvatska
Martina Skendrović Babojelić
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu , Zagreb
Tomislav Kos
; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za ekologiju, agronomiju i akvakulture, Zadar, Hrvatska
Kristijan Franin
; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za ekologiju, agronomiju i akvakulture, Zadar, Hrvatska
Šimun Kolega
; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za ekologiju, agronomiju i akvakulture, Zadar, Hrvatska
Šime Marcelić
; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za ekologiju, agronomiju i akvakulture, Zadar, Hrvatska
Abstract
Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) is a Mediterranean fruit species that grows wild in the coastal part of Croatia. It is often viewed as neglected and underutilized fruit species, despite its potential for cultivation. There is little research describing the morphological characteristics of this fruit species. The aim of the research is to determine the morphological characteristics of the fruit (length, width and mass) and the leaf area and, from the obtained data, to determine which wild populations of strawberry tree from the Zadar County area show the greatest potential for further selection. Five locations were selected for sampling: Preko, Ugljan, Ždrelac, Sukošan, and Petrčane. Four vital individuals were selected at each of the above locations, from which 40 fruits and leaves were sampled for analysis. After the analysis, the highest average fruit mass was determined in individuals from the locations Preko and Ugljan. The highest average leaf area value was also determined at Preko. The greatest fruit length was determined in individuals at the location Ugljan, and the smallest at the location Sukošan. The values of fruit width did not differ statistically from the locations Ugljan, Preko and Ždrelac, while the lowest values, as well as for length, were determined in strawberry tree specimens from the locations Sukošan and Petrčane. According to the results obtained, the studied strawberry tree specimens from the locations Ugljan and Preko have the greatest potential for further selection. Since the studied samples were from natural wild populations, it is necessary to conduct further research in uniform pedoclimatic or growing conditions in order to determine the real potential and stimulate interest in the cultivation of the strawberry tree.
Keywords
fruit; leaf; Mediterranean; selection; wild fruit trees
Hrčak ID:
345547
URI
Publication date:
12.3.2026.
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