Current State of Hazelnut Cultivation in the Countries of Commonwealth of Independent States

Hazelnuts are a wide-spread valuable species. This manuscript is devoted to the features of the hazelnut cultivation in the countries of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS countries) including a description of the most promising varieties, main breeding directions, and cultivation systems. Currently, about 20 countries all over the world industrially produce hazelnuts. Turkey, Italy, USA, and Chile are the main manufacturers of hazelnuts. In the CIS countries, Azerbaijan occupies a leading position in the cultivation of hazelnuts with 23 thousand ha, while Georgia (16 thousand ha) and Krasnodar Region (2 thousand ha) take 2nd and 3rd places. The rising demand for final products has significantly increased the interest in this crop in countries where hazelnuts are not a local crop.