Further Development of the “Red List of Threatened Useful Plant Species” for Vegetables

The aim of this research project is to establish a specific and effective basis for preserving the genetic diversity of plant resources for food and agriculture. The ‘red list of threatened vegetables’ will be developed following comprehensive research of literature and data. It will document the risks to genetic resources of vegetables native to Germany. Moreover, the project will support the conservation of genetic resources in a systematic and active way, in order to achieve the objectives of the National Programme of Plant Genetic Resources of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops (BMELV 2002). In order to develop the ‘red list for threatened vegetables’, old German seed catalogues and further specialized literature on vegetable cultivation will be scrutinized and evaluated. The list will include all vegetable species and their varieties, which were in common use between 1840 and 1950 in the territory within the current borders of Germany. Furthermore, research in national and international gene banks will establish the availability and localization of vegetable species and their varieties. The results will be scientifically assessed and categorized in order to inform decisions concerning the implementation of measures by the National Programme of Plant Genetic Resources of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops.