Local variety

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A genetically inconsistent group of forms of a cultivated plant species is referred to as regional varieties , which is usually composed of several morphologically or physiologically different types.

In contrast to high-performance varieties, local varieties are usually less productive. They were created through long-term, natural selection in a certain, mostly narrowly defined area and for this reason are very well adapted to the ecological conditions in this area. In addition, they are relatively reliable in terms of yield, as they react very flexibly to fluctuations in their location (including weather) due to the wide range of their genetic properties.

Preserving the genetic properties of local varieties is also in the interest of plant breeders, as certain genes can be crossed into high-performance varieties. Nonetheless, local varieties are often threatened by modern high-performance varieties, which can have devastating effects on nutrition, especially in the Third World . Land varieties are therefore partially preserved in gene banks .

In Central Europe there are several associations that coordinate the propagation of local varieties by home gardeners and thus contribute to their conservation.

Web links

These associations are not only active in the respective countries in which they are based, but also work across national borders.