Global Importance of Rosaceous Fruits’ Germplasm in Iran and New Approaches for Their Conservation and Utilization

Purpose: Iran is a main producer and also a primary center of diversity for several rosaceous fruit crops including pome, stone, and berry fruits. This paper aims to highlight the importance of Iran as a main contributor to the biodiversity of these fruit crops globally, as well as, to present major achievements regarding identification, collection, evaluation, conservation and utilization of this valuable genetic resources in Iran. Research Methods: Information was collected through available literature, long term field surveys for collection of plant genetic resources across the country and more than a decade long research projects conducted by the author’s research team for the evaluation and utilization of representative fruit crops germplasm. Findings: Genetic resources of rosaceous fruits in Iran, comprised of over ۱۰۰ species/ or interspecific forms. The pome fruits represents ۴۶ species including ۱۲ pear (Pyrus spp.), ۳ apple (Malus spp.), one quince (Cydonia oblanga Mill.), ۲۸ hawthorn (Crataegus spp. L.), one medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) and one loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) species. Almond and stone fruits represents ۴۸ species including ۲۸ almonds (Prunus spp.), ۱۲ sweet cherry and sour cherry (Prunus spp.), ۶ plums (Prunus spp.), one peaches and nectarines (P. persica Batsch), and one apricots (P. armeniaca L.) species. Berry fruits including blackberries (Rubus spp.) and strawberries (Fragaria sp.), represents ۱۰ and ۲ species/interspecific forms in Iran, respectively. It worth to mention that over ۳۰% of mentioned species/ or interspecific forms are endemic to Iran. Iran also enjoys a huge diversity of local cultivars and landraces in rosaceous fruit crops. Conclusion: Iran’s rosaceous fruit crops’ germplasm is a global asset, and is diverse for a wide range of pomological characters and resistance/tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, therefore could be utilized in breeding programs globally. Yet urgent action is needed to address conservation gaps by integrating genomic tools, epigenetic insights, and community-led initiatives to safeguard these resources while enhancing food security.

کلیدواژه ها:

Biodiversity ، Pome fruits ، stone fruits ، breeding ، wild species