A study on agrobiodiversity of cultivated plant genetic resources with emphasis on plant uses and socioeconomic aspect of farmers was conducted in northern Iran. This study is comprised of four major parts.
The first part consisted of the collecting of plant genetic resources in the research area. The collection was done in four sub-areas based on the altitudes. The main goals of this part were collection of local seeds and some data on the ethnobotany of cultivated plants. The selected accessions of collected seeds were sown later in the greenhouse of the University of Kassel in Witzenhausen, Germany to classify and conduct the preliminary evaluation. Results of this study show genetic erosion with the disappearance of the local landraces and many indigenous varieties replaced by new cultivars. The area is an important refuge for local landraces as well as domestication of wild plants through local agricultural systems.
The second part of the study explored the uses of the wild and neglected fruit tree and shrub species in the research area to obtain a better understanding of the knowledge of rural populations. The interactions between wild and cultivated plants in the area were of special interest. The results of this investigation show a dependence on wild trees and shrub species as sources of local foods and medicines.
The third section investigates the relationship between socioeconomic aspects of farmers with plant biodiversity in homegardens. Homegardens play a crucial role in the conservation of plant diversity and are suitable place for the cultivation of fruits and vegetables that mainly used for home consumption, and the surplus can be sold in local markets to generate income. Six types of homegardens were identified by cluster analysis based on agroecologic and socioeconomic variables.
The final part of study was a checklist of cultivated plants to characterize the state of plant genetic resources in the research area. The checklist contains accepted botanical names, synonyms, family names, local names, part and plant uses and some additional notes mainly on the present status of these plants.