STATUS OF CONSERVED LOCAL PLANT BIODIVERSITY IN BULGARIA – NEW CHALLENGES AND RESEARCH PRIORITIES

Bulgaria is one of the countries with the greatest plant biodiversity in Europe, as well as with a significant number of unique ecosystems. The study aims to present the documented local plant genetic resources, conserved in the Bulgarian seed genebank, and to correspond to the new challenges, created by the climate changes. The research priorities are focused on expanding the role of biodiversity in agricultural food systems to increase the sustainability of farmers and to return the traditional taste to the consumers. The survey is based on the national register of plant genetic resources and the international databases such as FAO WIEWS, GENESYS, EURISCO and AEGIS. The results show that in the national collection 65,015 accessions were described by passport descriptor. 16,010 accessions are characterized with Bulgarian origin. Through expeditions 10,687 seed samples of local varieties have been collected in the country. The overview of plant genetic resources originating from Bulgaria is an indication of the wealth of crop plant species and their wild relatives, and they may assist in identifying gaps and need for further collecting. It may also be a good starting point for compiling checklists of cultivated plant species and future research activities. Some weak points in the documentation of the current ex situ collections are pointed out. The results will integrate descriptions of landraces, taking into account consumers’ perceptions and farmer’s needs for creation of thematic networks aimed to promote the durable use of local plant genetic resources.