Maintaining the genetic diversity of our grown crops is in the fundamental interest of local agriculture. These include fruit varieties that have been present for a long time in the Carpathian Basin, and which are more adaptable and resistant to climatic and environmental changes. From now on, the Hungarian Landscape Fruit Varieties Day draws attention to the preservation of the genetic diversity of these landraces, which will be held starting Monday – a joint initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Millennium Challenge Corporation's Climate Policy Institute – every year. March 25, Our Lady of the Harvest Day, – Agriculture Minister István Nagy announced on Monday on his social media page.
Cultivation of local plants and horticultural culture has a long history in the Carpathian Basin. Recognized landscape varieties are distinctive varieties that have evolved during continuous cultivation in each landscape area, and are well adapted to the climatic conditions of a particular area, as a result of natural and artificial selection. There are currently 81 types of fruit recognized by the state. Most of them have now been taken out of cultivation, but they can still be found in the Carpathian Basin. These landraces of the fruit have been collected and preserved in the gene bank for decades in Hungary. In addition to the National Center for Biodiversity and Gene Conservation, several gene banks and private collections have been established as a result, the minister explained.
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Landscape type, genetics, biodiversity, Carpathian basin, gene conservation, fruit, Hungarian, economy
