Berry plants distribution in Lesser Caucasus territory

The Caucasus is distinguished by an extraordinary diversity of ecosystems and includes up to 40% of the landscape type of the Earth. There are 6000 plant species here. In this regard, there is a need to ensure the environmental safety of the ecosystems of the Caucasus and the protection of biological diversity at all levels. The flora of Azerbaijan is the richest corner of the Caucasus and includes 4500 species, of which 200 are national and 950 are endemic to the Caucasus. Many changes occurring in the environment, including the impact of man-made factors, acute consequences occurring in the environment, changes observed in finishing conditions, etc. factors lead to the loss of the local varietal base and the wild heritage of many plant species, including fruits and berries. Numerous berry plants, common in the forests of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, allow the population to use them both for food and for breeding purposes. We tried to study the taxonomic spectrum, range and effective ways of using wild berry plants growing wild in these areas, less common in cultivation and non-traditional wild berry plants. In addition to strawberries, red currants, black currants, raspberries, blackberries, which are many berry plants widely cultivated by the population on farms in the forests of the region and included in the group of traditional plants, other berry plants that occur wild in forests, but are known only to the local population - there are also varieties of Gooseberries, Blueberries, Blueberries. As can be seen from the above, the forests of the Lesser Caucasus of Azerbaijan, along with other types of fruit plants, are also rich in berry plants, which are used only to a limited extent, in local conditions, and which are new to many and non-traditional to most.