SOME OF INTERESTING MINOR FRUIT CROPS OF GEORGIA - CONSTRAINS AND DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES

The South Caucasus, to which Georgia belongs, is one of the most distinguished centers of biodiversity, where a great diversity of fruit crops is gathered. At the modern stage of fruit development, in order to increase fruit yield and improve product quality, special importance is attached to updating and perfecting the composition of fruit crops. The minor and underutilized crops play an important role in crop diversification and development of new agricultural products. The minor crops can make significant contribution to the life of local people through diversifying and increasing their incomes. Georgia is rich with genetic resources of minor and underutilized crops too. The surveys of minor crops of economic importance, such as quince, medlars, cornelian cherry, fig, jujube, olive, actinidia and etc. Not all varieties have been used in production. The article presents some of minor fruits (Quince (Cydonia oblonga. M), Medlars (Mespilus germanica), Cornelian cherry( Cornus mas L.), Fig (Fcus carica) deficiently cultivated in the current time in Georgia. Of these crops Distribution and general biological-agricultural characterization, which is an important topic in terms of fruit assortment diversity. These species can make a significant contribution to improving nutrition and health, creating conditions for the regional economy, opportunities for the development of minor agricultural and processing enterprises, conditions for the reproduction, distribution and cultivation of new plant species and the reproduction of natural resources for practical use in bioenergy, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other purposes. The information presented in the article will help to popularize some minor fruits in the country, which will have a positive impact on the process of adaptation-introduction of new crops and their industrial development.