Diversity of agricultural plants on Lesvos Island (Northeast Aegean, Greece) with emphasis on fruit trees

• A detailed inventory of crop species landraces took place in Lesvos Island, Greece.
• Information concern their composition, traits and conservation status.
• Numerous landraces, 36 annual or biennial and 15 perennial crop species recorded.
• An effective conservation strategy should combine in situ and ex situ activities.
• Synergies of different stakeholders could promote local landraces products.

Historical evidence concerning the island of Lesvos has revealed the cultivation of cereals, olive trees, vines, figs and vegetables. Although the island's agricultural economy has been based almost exclusively on olive tree cultivation since the 18th century (ce.), wide diversity of other crops has significantly contributed to the growth of the local economy. Two consecutive inventories and collection expeditions of crop landraces on the island of Lesvos were conducted in 2011 and 2012. The first expedition focused mainly on annual species, while the second one focused exclusively on fruit trees and grapevine landraces. Both expeditions included visits to nearly 50 villages and contacts with amateur and professional farmers, directly related to landraces. During the first expedition a total of 63 donors contributed 309 accessions of 37 annual crop species and genera, mainly vegetables followed by pulses and cereals. A large variation of fruit trees and grapevine landraces has been recorded during both expeditions, including 143 landraces’ names of 13 different species, with the greatest variability observed in pears, figs, apples and cherries as well as in grapevine. Results of the study revealed the substantial plant genetic wealth of cultivated species on the island of Lesvos. The urgent need to collect, conserve and promote this biodiversity is highlighted, since it constitutes invaluable plant material both for scientific purposes as well as for the economic sustainable development of the island.