Genetic Resources of the Federal Research Center Subtropical Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Establishment, Conservation, Study, and Utilization

   The development of genetic collections at the Federal Research Center Subtropical Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FRC SSC RAS) dates back to the late 19^th century, with the establishment of the Sochi Agricultural and Horticultural Experiment Station on the Black Sea coast. At that time, the Station saw its primary mission in the introduction and study of valuable subtropical fruit, industrial, and ornamental crops. Scientific research conducted at the Center led to the widespread cultivation of various species, such as bay laurel, tea, persimmon, feijoa, citrus, kiwifruit, and hazelnut, in the Black Sea region of the Caucasus. Many of these species hold significant commercial and agricultural importance. The introduction of new species and cultivars of flower and ornamental plants at the FRC SSC RAS has substantially contributed to the development of the floriculture industry. The advancement of plant cultivation requires continuous varietal renewal, which drives the creation of new adaptive domestic cultivars.

   The research presented in this article is aimed at the expansion, conservation, and study of the FRC SSC RAS genetic resources through identification of donors and sources of economically valuable traits, development of new hybrids and cultivars resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses, and the design of scientifically substantiated varietal assortments for the humid subtropics of Russia.

   The work focuses on the Center’s extensive plant gene pool, which comprises 2800 variety samples organized into 20 collections.

   These collections are continuously enriched with both introduced cultivars and samples obtained by the Center’s breeding specialists. The genetic resources contribute to conserving biological diversity, including wild relatives, rare, endangered, and endemic species. The study of the unique gene pool preserved in vivo enabled the identification of sources of valuable traits among 45 fruit crops (citrus, persimmon, feijoa, pear, actinidia) and 61 ornamental plants (pelargonium, freesia, chrysanthemum, tulip, anemone, gerbera, hippeastrum), leading to the development of 266 adaptive varieties. The Center continues research into domestication of plants and improvement of propagation methods and techniques. Additionally, technological aspects of plant cultivation are addressed. Furthermore, innovative structural approaches are developed to study and evaluate the global diversity of subtropical, southern fruit, and ornamental flowering plants.

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