The development of chestnut industry of Turkey in the last half century

Abstract

Turkey is a main chestnut producing country in the world. Significant differences in nut production took place in the last half century mainly due to the fatal diseases e. g., ink disease (Phytophthora sp.) and chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica). The harmful effect of these diseases varied region to region. Nut export quantity also fluctuated in this period connected with the production level. Economical importance of the chestnut is not only coming from the fresh nut but various kinds of nut products have also been important. Candied chestnut is the most famous product among them. Some additional new products were offered to the taste of the society. Chestnut flour is another product of chestnut fruits which can be used. Some of these products have also been exported. Both fresh and processed materials showed increasing tendency in respect of export quantity. In the last decade nut production showed also an increasing tendency because the fatal effect of the chestnut blight gradually decreased. All of these subjects are discussed in detail in this paper.