ARS | Publication request: COLLECTING WILD CROP RELATIVES IN THE NORTHWESTERN STEPPES OF KAZAKHSTAN

Submitted to: Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: April 20, 2003
Publication Date: October 1, 2005
Citation: Greene, S.L., Hannan, R.M., Afonin, A., Dzyubenko, N.I., Khusainov, A. 2005. Collecting wild crop relatives in the northwestern steppes of kazakhstan. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter. 141:1-6.

Interpretive Summary: This paper reports on a joint germplasm collecting trip to visit the northwest part of Kazakhstan, including the Mãgodzor Mountains. Species of interest were the perennial relatives of cultivated alfalfa, as well as wild crop relatives of onion, lettuce, forage grasses and medicinal plants. Eighty-nine sites were visited and a total of 432 accessions representing 43 genera, were collected. A GIS database was developed to support the collecting trip and post-collection analysis of sites. Five distinct ecogeographic areas were traveled through. Most areas supported a rich diversity of species, although genetic erosion was evident in certain areas.

Technical Abstract: The Central Asian Republic of Kazakhstan, is the ninth largest country in the world in terms of land area. Reflecting a diversity of ecosystems, almost 6000 plant species have been reported in Kazakhstan. Within this diversity, the country has a wealth of wild crop relatives. A joint collecting trip was conducted in 2000 to visit the northwest part of the country, including the Mãgodzor Mountains. Species of interest were the perennial relatives of cultivated alfalfa, as well as wild crop relatives of onion, lettuce, forage grasses and medicinal plants. Eighty-nine sites were visited and a total of 432 accessions representing 43 genera, were collected. A GIS database was developed to support the collecting trip and post-collection analysis of sites. Five distinct ecogeographic areas were traveled through. Most areas supported a rich