Biodiversity And Stress Resistance Of Genetic Resources Of Fruit Crops

Azerbaijan is one of the main centers of origin and domestication of many fruit crops. A large number of wild species, forms and native varieties are widespread here, and the history of the emergence of cultivated varieties goes back millennia. The creation of cultivars has been going on continuously from the very beginning of its cultivation, and at present a high level of improvement has been achieved. The value and usefulness of these crops lies in the fact that many of these plant species are adapted to growing in such difficult agricultural conditions as soil salinity, climate aridity, degraded or hilly field relief. A certain role in identifying the traits that determine the shape or variety in relation to its resistance to unfavorable environmental factors belongs to the physiological characteristics of plants. Valuable subtropical crops of the Republic of Azerbaijan - pomegranate and almonds are cultivated as fruit crops, used not only as a dietary product, but also for medicinal, technical and decorative purposes. The aim of the research is to study the effect of drought and salt stress on the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves of pomegranate and almond plants and to identify the relationship between these physiological processes and plant resistance, as well as to diagnose the level of resistance based on the results obtained. The article shows the results of determination and assessment of stress-depression of drought and salt tolerance in 9 pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and 29 almond varieties and forms (Amygdalus communis L.) from the collection of the Institute. Investigations carried out in this direction on varieties and forms of pomegranate and almond showed different sensitivity of plants to drought and salinity, which made it possible to identify the most resistant samples. The selected samples can be suitable for future use in the breeding process in the direction of stress resistance. Determination of the degree of resistance to drought and salinity will make it possible to assess the prospects of varieties and forms for different soil and climatic zones.