Page 29 - Zbornik_Konf_2019

https://doi.org/10.15414/2019.9788055220703

4 International Scientific Conference Abstracts Book
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GENETIC RESOURCES OF FRUIT TREES AND THEIR USE IN THE AGROFORESTRY

Martin Gálik
National Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Gene Bank of the Slovak
Republic, Piešťany; E-mail.: martin.galik@nppc.sk
The diversity of cultivated plants has dramatically decreased due to the industrialization
of agriculture over the last 100 years. It is very important to preserve the old cultivars for the
next generation. It is a goal of the Gene Bank of the Slovak Republic.
The Gene Bank is a specific technical institution for medium-term and long-term storage
of the genotypes in the vital state in ex situ, in vitro and field collections. The Gene Bank,
situated in Piešťany, storages 18 832 seed accessions at the active collection and 3 944
accessions at the base collection. The field fruit trees collection was planted in years 2005–
2007 and is being revised continuously. Each genotype is represented by three or two trees. It
means more than 740 fruit trees can be found in the orchard in Piešťany at this time. These
fruit trees genetic resources are available for use by other researches for their scientific
projects and also for saving and sustainable use of plant genetic resources in systems on-farm.
Field fruit trees collection in the Gene Bank of the Slovak Republic consists of 106
peaches varieties and cultivars (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch), 42 cherries (Prunus avium (L.) L.)
and 117 apricots genotypes (Prunus armeniaca L.).
Agroforestry is an integrated land-use system that combines elements of agriculture
(agro) and trees (forestry) in a sustainable production system. It promotes functional bio-
diverse systems that balance productivity with environmental enhancement and protection.
Agroforestry systems are classified as silvoarable (trees and crops) or silvopastoral (trees and
animals). Systems can combine the production of a wide range of products including food,
fuel, timber, forage, medicinal products, recreation, and ecological services. Old fruit trees
genotypes are suitable for growing in agroforestry systems. There are planted on seedling
rootstocks in wider row spacing distances and are deliberately used on the same land-
management units as agricultural crops or animals, in some form of spatial arrangement or
temporal sequence. Such fruit trees with a longer lifetime are an important part of the
landscape.
We consider the agroforestry as one of the best tools available to mitigate and adapt to
climate change. The Gene Bank of Slovak Republic has participated in a few projects focused
on saving of fruit trees genetic resources and their exploitation in the agroforestry. Bio-
economic models predict that silvoarable systems are more profitable than the comparable
forestry or arable systems, because of the increased land productivity.

Keywords: agroforestry, agroforestry systems, genetic resources, gene bank, fruit trees, orchard, old
cultivar.

4 International Scientific Conference Agrobiodiversity Nutrition, Health and Quality of Human and Bees Life |29
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September 11–13, 2019