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 address the new challenges, created by climate change. The research priorities of the national program on plant genetic resources in Bulgaria are focused on expanding the role of biodiversity in agricultural food systems to increase the sustainability of agriculture and livelihood of farmers and to offer consumers the traditional taste of agricultural produce. 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 the national collection compares 65,015 accessions with passport descriptors. Among those, 16,010 accessions are characterized with Bulgarian origin. Through expeditions 10,687 seed samples of local varieties have been collected within 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 the national register may assist in identifying gaps and needs for further collecting. It may also be a good starting point for compiling checklists of cultivated plant species and help define future research activities. The results of this study will integrate description of local origin of landraces, taking into account consumers' perceptions and farmer's needs for creation of rural thematic networks aimed to promote the durable use of local plant genetic resources. The research was supported by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science under the National Research Programme “Healthy Foods for a Strong Bio-Economy and Quality of Life”, approved by DCM № 577/17.08.2018.