In situ conservation of fruit landraces

In situ conservation is considered as conservation of wild biota in the natural habitat (locality). The authors extend the term to cultivated fruit species naturalised in the landscape, such as occasional spontaneous seedlings, and planted material such as old solitary trees among fields, old groves, avenues (country lanes), wind-breaks, and abandoned remnants of orchards. In situ conservation is also used to mark unique materials during collecting expeditions, before they will be taken as ex situ or proclaimed as permanent in situ. Important landraces found within 12 regions of the Czech Republic were registered, evaluated, and in situ localised by Global Positioning System (GPS). The following accessions were marked for in-situ conservation: apple (401), sweet cherry (263), pear (91), plum (42), sour cherry (27), and berry fruits (18).