RESULTS OF AN EXPEDITION INVESTIGATION ON THE BIODIVERSITY OF FRUIT SPECIES AND CULTIVARS IN THE TERRITORY OF THE 'BALGARKA' NATIONAL PARK

摘要

The study was conducted in the territory of the anthropogenic area in the "Balgarka" Natural Park, in 6 previously set regions with a greater concentration of the fruit crops, with the objective to establish the typical fruit species and local cultivars and forms for this region and to suggest a programme for their conservation and renewal. Due to the closed character of the communes and hamlets in the past, ones and the same forms and primitive local cultivars of apples and forms of the cultivar type Kyustendilska in plums were exchanged and propagated among the iocal inhabitants. At the present moment the trees at the age of more than 60-70 years are predominant. Only the orchards around the few inhabited houses are managed. In these agriculturalholdings there is a rich gene pool of unique cultivars threatened with extinction that should be conserved. Due to their increased disease resistance they can be included in orchards for organic fruit production, the products of which should be successfully used for preparation of traditional healthful foods, such as dried fruits, damson cheese, jams, as well as the typical fruit brandies in the Balkan region. A great part of the collected cultivars can be donors in the breeding for disease resistance,high content of acids, pectin and biologically active substances.