Historical aspects of pear cultivation in the Caucasus

Abstract. The relevance. The Caucasus is one of the richest world centers of origin: more than 260 species of 37 genera of wild fruit and berry plants grow here. Such diversity has served as the basis for the widespread development of horticulture. In the scientific literature it is noted that horticulture in this region is over 3000 years old. The abundance of species and forms of pear has contributed to the creation of an original local assortment of this valuable crop, distinguished by its originality in various environmental conditions. Many local varieties of pear have not only economic and scientific value, but are also a historical heritage of our country.

The problem of the research is that many varieties of Caucasian pear are currently little known, preserved in the collections of scientific institutions and in amateur gardening. The goal is to study the process of the emergence of local varieties of pear and the development of horticulture in the Caucasus. The research methods used are general scientific ones (analysis, comparison, generalization, synthesis), source study and historical-comparative methods.

The results of the research: historical aspects of the creation of a pear assortment in various regions of the Caucasus have been considered, the importance of preserving the gene pool of local pear varieties for practical use and as an object for students' research activities and educational work has been substantiated

Key conclusions: an appeal to the historical experience of creating and developing gardens will help to replenish data on the regional history of pear cultivation and use them in the work to identify, preserve and use old Circassian varieties.

1. Bandurko I.A., Daguzhieva Z.Sh. Ecological and geographical grouping of pear varieties and identification of new sources for breeding in the North Caucasus // New technologies. 2020. Vol. 16, Issue 6. P. 48-57. (In Russ.)

2. Bandurko I.A., Kudayeva N.A. In search of old Adyghe varieties of apple and pear: a monograph. Maikop: MSTU, 2021. 204 p. (In Russ.)

3. Bogushevsky P.N. Fruit growing in the left-bank Kuban regions of the North Caucasus Territory // Works on applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding. Vol. 22, issue 3. L.: VIPBiNK, GIOA, 1929. P. 485-525. (In Russ.)

4. Vavilov N.I. Wild relatives of fruit trees in the Asian part of the USSR and the Caucasus and the problem of the origin of fruit trees // Works on applied Botany, Genetics and Selection. Vol. 26, issue 3. L., 1931. P. 85-107. (In Russ.)

5. Gadzhiev A.M. Current state of fruit growing in Dagestan and prospects for its development in a market economy / A.M. Gadzhiev, N.G. Zagirov, T.B. Alibekov // Forms and methods for increasing the economic efficiency of regional horticulture and viticulture. – Krasnodar, 2001. – Part 1. – P. 25- 30. (In Russ.)

6. Grossgeim A.A. Flora of the Caucasus. Vol. 5. M.; L., 1952. P. 28-29, 14-17. (In Russ.)

7. Daguzhieva Z.Sh., Bandurko I.A. Selection and biological assessment of the Caucasian pear forms (Pyrus caucasica Fed.): a monograph. Maikop, 2022. 168 p. (In Russ.)

8. Elagin I.P. Pear forests of the North-West Caucasus. Moscow, 1951. – 203p. (In Russ.)

9. Ibragimova Z.Kh. The Chechen people in the Russian Empire: adaptation period. Moscow: PROBEL-2000, 2006. 756 p. (In Russ.)

10. Kudayeva N.A. Adyghe (Circassian) pear varieties // Materials of the scientific and practical conference «Scientific heritage of Professor N.A. Tkhagushev». – Maikop; Magarin O.G., 2012. – P.36-41. (In Russ.)

11. Michurin I.V. Circassian gardens are waiting for their breeders. Works. Moscow: Selkhozgiz, 1948. Vol. IV. – 617 p. (In Russ.)

12. Pashkevich V. V. Selected works on fruit growing. Moscow: Selkhozgiz, 1959. 359 p. (In Russ.)

13. Rajabli A. D. Valuable varieties of apples and pears of Karabakh / A. D. Rajabli // Socialist agriculture of Azerbaijan. – 1955. – No. 12. (In Russ.)

14. Rubtsov G. A. Origin and evolution of cultivated pear / G. A. Rubtsov // DAN SSSR. – 1940. – Vol. 28. – Issue 4. – P. 351-354. (In Russ.)

15. Suprun I.I., Tokmakov S.V. et al. Evaluation of genetic polymorphism of modern varieties and autochthonous forms of pear in the North Caucasus based on the analysis of microsatellite loci// Genetics. Vol. 52. Issue 11. 2016. – P. 1270-1279 (In Russ.)

16. Sukhorukikh Yu.I., Larionov Yu.M. Pear and apple in the forests of Adygea. Maikop: Kachestvo, 2006. 108 p. (In Russ.)

17. Sytin A.K. Petr Simon Pallas – a botanist. – Moscow: KMK Sci. Press Ltd., 1997. – 338 p. (In Russ.)

18. Trusevich G.V. Wild fruits of the Azov-Black Sea region and their use. Rostov n / D: Azcherizdat, 1936. 123 p. (In Russ.)

19. Tuz A.S. Pyrus L. – Pear // Cultural flora of the USSR. M., 1983. P. 126-234. (In Russ.)

20. Tkhagushev N.A. Gardening of the Adyghes: folk traditions, description of varieties, forest gardens. Maikop: Adyghe republican book publishing house, 2008. 252 p. (In Russ.)

21. Khotko S.Kh. Old Circassian gardens: landscape and agriculture of the North-West Caucasus in the light of Russian sources 1864–1914. Vol. 1. M .: Olma-Press, 2005. 414 p. (In Russ.)

22. Collecting fruit genetic resources in the North Caucasus region /M.-V. Hanke H. [et al.] // Journal fur Kulturpflanzen. 2012. Vol. 64. P. 126-136. (In Eng.)