Conservation and Restoration of Unique Local Wild Relatives of Plants Together with Communities Living in the Kulob Zone of Khatlon Region

The project was to study, preserve, and restore unique local wild relatives of plants together with communities living in the Kulob zone of Khatlon region. The main objects of the study were rare local genotypes, including Amygdalus bucharica Korsh., Ficus carica L., Malus sieversii (Ledeb.) M. Roem., Pyrus tadshikistanica Zapr., etc.

Upon completion of the project tasks, the following results were obtained:

1. The current state of research on the project topic and the main directions of research in this general regard in world science were established;
2. Taxonomy conservation status was studied;
3. Morphological characters were described;
4. Areas in Kulob zone of Khatlon region were mapped;
5. Characteristics of the population of local fruit trees were investigated;
6. Nurseries of fruit crops were established;
7. Recommendations for the patenting of landraces were given; and
8. Trainings on advanced horticulture practices were carried out for the local farmers.

Keywords: Amygdalus bucharica Korsh., Ficus carica L., Malus sieversii (Ledeb.) M. Roem., Pyrus tadshikistanica Zapr., Pyrus korshinskyi Litv., Punica granatum L., mapping of wild fruit plants, conservation of wild fruit plants, ethnobotany.