Savadkouh (Iran) - an evolutionary centre for fruit trees and shrubs

Fieldwork was carried out in the north of Iran in April/May 2004. Four zones according to altitude including 20 villages and especially surrounding forests were visited. Data on uses and ethnobotany was collected through interviews that were one-on-one with respondents carefully selected to represent both male and female. Additionally a general survey of the area including other places of Savadkouh has been performed. The fruit trees and shrubs include Berberis sp., Crataegus sp., Cydonia oblonga, Diospyros lotus, Ficus carica, Malus orientalis, Mespilus germanica, Prunus cerasifera ssp. macrocarpa, Prunus spinosa, Punica granatum, and Rubus sp. Most of these are gathered from the wild, or occasionally cultivated in homegardens. The results of this study show that all of these species are used as sources of local foods and medicines. The area should be considered as an important evolutionary centre for fruit trees and shrubs and should be taken into serious consideration for discussions about fruit tree and shrub evolution. Germplasm collection activities, in situ conservation programs and interdisciplinary analysis of socioeconomic aspects of rural communications will be necessary in future studies.