Modern agriculture endangers rich fruit and nut reservoir of the Mediterranean Basin.

摘要

Concern is growing that wild and domesticated fruit and nut species of the Mediterranean region are endangered by modern agriculture, genetic erosion and environmental degradation. Most new plantations in this vast region are based on a narrow genetic base of rootstocks or seedlings imported from developed countries north of the Mediterranean. The domestication of important fruit tree species, including olive, grape, fig, pomegranate, date palm, almond, apricot and pistachio in the Mediterranean region and the distribution of their wild relatives is outlined. A programme to survey, collect, conserve and promote the region is described.