EX SITU CONSERVATION AND DOMESTICATION PROCESS OF A NUMBER OF WILD EDIBLE PLANTS SPREAD IN ARMENIA

Having been rich in valuable key amino acids, vitamins, proteins and mineral salts vegetables plants, many of whose are successfully used as food, play an important role in the human diet. Unsystematic and not proper (in terms of time and location) utilization of valuable plant species results in irreversible loss of threatened species, which in its turn significantly impoverishes the Armenian flora. That is why the conservation of such plant species in the wild, their involvement in cultivation process is a very important issue, which will ultimately contribute to prevent the extinction of these valuable species in nature. Activities targeted on domestication and involvement in cultivation process of valuable wild vegetable plants is being carried out in "Scientific Center of Agrobiotechnology" the branch of the Armenian National Agrarian University (ANAU), there is already some successes recorded in this direction for four plant species (Falcaria vulgaris L., Chaerophyllum bulbosum L., Rumex confertus Willd. Leonurus cardiaca L.). Cultivation technology cards have been developed for them, which can serve as a guide for farmers dealing with those species.