Central Asia is one of five most important sources of cultural plants where rare and unique species of wild horticultural crops are preserved. Expansion of pastures for domestic cattle, illegal cutting down of trees, industrialization, introduction and planting of alien species threaten and force out wild and endemic cultures. Scientists and experts of whole world have faced the problem of saving the genetic fund of wild plants. Already for several years the works on registration, foundation of dada bank and saving the wild relatives of many cultures are being carried out within the framework of the project Biodiversity International/UNEP-GEF’ In situ/On farm- Preservation and Use of Agro- bio- diversity (horticultural crops and their wild relatives) in Central Asia. During these years the great work was implemented in each country-participant of this project. On 29 January the session of the National Steering Committee on implementation of the component of the project ‘Preservation and Use of Agro-bio-diversity (horticultural crops and their wild relatives)’ in Uzbekistan was held in the Institute of Genetics. This project has entered into its final stage and presentation on implementation of scheduled events in 2009 and perspective plans for current year was made in the session of the National Steering Committee. The national coordinator of the project A.K.Kayimov reported about following results: “Analysis of legislative base including the problems of farmer’s access right to genetic resources of plants was implemented. In the summer of 2009 five expeditions on creation of the demonstrative plots and horticultural mini-nursery garden and five expeditions on inoculation were carried out. 21 demonstrative plots with a total area of 12.9 hectare including 3 plots with wild horticultural crops such as apple-tree, pistachio-tree, walnut were created in the provinces of Uzbekistan. 16 horticultural mini-nursery gardens with a total area of 0.24 hectare were also created. The list of the local sorts of target cultures of Uzbekistan with indication of the locality with rare species of wild relatives was prepared. During the eco-geografical researches about 195 local sorts and varieties of apple-tree, pear-tree, apricot-tree, vine, pomegranate tree, pistachio-tree, walnut, almond-tree and their wild relatives were described. Their relation to the local conditions was researched. Following the results of these researches a lot of publications are prepared and a number of seminars for farmers on study and replication of positive experience and modern technologies was held.” The national consultant on agro-bio-diversity K.I.Bymetov made an addition to the results of last research expedition of 2009; the list of new found sorts was widened with 65 species of horticultural varieties of wild relatives. Specialist of the project in the sector of mountain forest-melioration, ecology and forest protection E.A.Butkov gave a lot of examples of discovery of unique endemic species of horticultural crops. In particularly D.Kurbanov saved an unusual sort of pomegranate at demonstrative plot in Dashnabad. The fruit is enormous and its taste is wonderful. Riches of our nature is delightful!

N. Shivaldova