Grain legumes genetic resources of Mediterranean origin in VIR collection: diversity and use in breeding

The introductions from the Mediterranean region to VIR collection of grain legumes genetic resources amounts 12 % of its content. One-fifth of this sample accessions (1272) had been collected by N.I. Vavilov in 1926-1927, in his expedition around this richest floristic region. In the collection there are also large amounts of the accessions collected by P.M. Zhukovskyi, V.F. Do-rofeev, K.Z. Boudin and other collectors from VIR. Many other accessions are obtained by the requests or as a result of exchange with breeding institutions of the countries situated around Mediterranean Sea and genebanks worldwide. The Mediterranean, as one of the «hot spots» of the world's biodiversity, is one of the centers of origin of cultivated plants, including some economically important species of grain legumes. This is a region with many endemic species, both cultivated and wild relatives of legumes. In the countries of Mediterranean many species of legumes, including dry beans, cowpeas, vetch, white, yellow and blue lupines, chickpea, vetchling, lentil and grass pea had been domesticated. Common bean and soybean had been introduced and became an integral part of agricultural production in the region. All this makes the germplasm of the region very valuable. The article for the first time analyses the botanical and genetic diversity over 5500 samples of Mediterranean origin, introduced and stored in VIR collection and brief history of the process. In accordance with the N.I. Vavilov's rule of regularity in the geographical distribution of the traits, Mediterranean gene pool is phenotypically differentiated depending on the place of origin. The genotypes cultivated in the countries of western and northern Mediterranean for centuries been subjected to careful breeding, have been planted on fertile soils, in a mild climate and most of them are characterized by strong habit, large fruits and seeds. In the arid conditions of the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean basin early-maturated plants grow adapted to drought and heat (N.I. Vavilov, 1962). This Vavilov's discovery is the basis of the addressed assignment of the material from VIR collection for the regional breeding programs in accordance with ecological conditions and geographical position of the region. The paper for the first time provides the information about the features of the Mediterranean gene pool stored in the collection of grain legumes. The differentiation of the breeding status of the material is clear depending on the significance of the genus (species) or the crop in agricultural production in Mediterranean region. The collections of peas, soybeans, common beans from this gene pool are represented mostly by commercial varieties. The collections of lupine, cowpea, chickpea, beans, chicklings and vetch are comprised mostly of local varieties. Some genera ( Vicia, Lathyrus, Lupin ) are represented by numerous species of wild relatives. For all crops the examples of elite germplasm (sources of alleles of genes determining the valuable traits) for breeding identified in the collection of VIR as a result of its assessment are given. The examples of using of Mediterranean gene pool in breeding domestic and foreign varieties are also given.