COLLECTING LOCAL POPULATIONS OF GRAIN LEGUME SPECIES IN CROATIA

Na ekspediciji provedenoj tijekom 1994. godine u okolici grada Splita prikupljeno je 7 uzoraka lokalnih populacija krupnosjemenih mahunarki (bob, grah, grahorica, grašak, leća, sjekirica i slanutak) koji su, zajedno s pripadajućim putovničkim podacima, predani na čuvanje Hrvatskoj banci biljhih gena. Lokalne populacije krupnosjemenih mahunarki još uvijek se mogu u proizvodnji na području prikupljanja iako im prijeti opasnost od genetske erozije. Genetska erozija uzrokovana je napuštanjem poljoprivredne proizvodnje i/ili njenom intenzifikacijom i prelaskom na druge profitabilnije kulture. Stoga je potrebno pripremiti i provesti daljnje ekspedicije u širu regiju grada Splita i prikupiti što više biljnog materijala koji je u opasnosti. Prikupljeni biljni materijali bi, nakon opisa i procjene agronomskih svojstava, moglo biti korisno upotrijebljen u budućim oplemenjivačkim programima.A mission with the aim of collecting local populations of grain legume species was organized in 1994 in the surroundings of the city of Split, Croatia. 75 samples of seven grain legume species (faba bean, peas, vetch, beans, chickpea, lentil, Lathyrus) and their passport data were collected and given to the Croatian Bank of plant Genes for further analysis and conservation. Local populations of grain legumes still can be found in agricultural production of the region. Genetic erosion is caused by socio-economic changes. Rural populations are abandoning agriculture or considering to grow other, more profitable crops. Local populations of grain legumes are in danger of genetic erosion and there is a need for further collecting in this region. Collected plant material could be, after their characterization and evaluation, very useful in future breeding programes