MOBILIZATION OF VEGETABLE PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES TO THE VIR COLLECTION FROM THE TERRITORY OF ARMENIA (BASED ON THE DATA OF VIR'S INTERNATIONAL EXPEDITION TO ARMENIA IN 2017)

Abstract

Background. Plant genetic resources (PGR) mobilization, their preservation in collections (ex situ) and in plant communities (in situ/on farm), their studying as well as systematization of the related information in databases are not just relevant and topical issues; they are vital to ensure food, environmental and bioresource security of Russia. In view of this, the number of VIR's expeditions to various regions of Russia and neighboring countries to collect food, fodder and industrial crops and their wild relatives is growing every year. Armenia is one of the richest territories in genetic resources. The richness and diversity of PGR in general and vegetable crops in particular is determined by several factors, including geographical features, soil and climate, the origin of cultivated plants, the traditions of their cultivation and consumption, and others.Methodology. Surveys of the planned territories were carried out along the routes from Yerevan in different directions, and lasted from one to three days. The collecting method complied with the Guidelines for collecting plant resources to replenish the collection of VIR.Results. During the period from August 06 to 20, 2017, 191 collection sites were explored, and various accessions were collected: 225 seed samples for the VIR collection, and 53 herbarium specimens of wild lettuce for VIR's Herbarium, 48 of which belonged to Lactuca L. spp., and 5 to the species of close genera (Cicerbita Wallr., Cephalorinhus Boiss.). The length of the route was 2,863 km.

Keywords

• vegetable plants
• crop wild relatives
• mobilization
• armenia.