Evaluation of the quality of autochthonous plum cultivars in the area of Bosanski Petrovac.

History of our autochthonous fruit cultivars is very long. Balkan Peninsula is one of the most important and richest centers of genetic diversity of fruit species in Europe. In the process of domestication many fruit species came into contact with their wild relatives, intersecting different genetic material and adjusting to the given environmental conditions. In this way, there was enrichment of biodiversity with many landraces that now constitute our unique biological heritage. Autochthonous fruit varieties were suppressed by industrial and commercial varieties. The objective of this study was to investigate main pomological characteristics as well as fruit quality of the selected autochthonous plum cultivars from the region of Bosanski Petrovac. The fruits of selected cultivars could be processed, particularly into plum brandy, or they could be used fresh or dried. Also, can be used both in breeding programmes and as rootstocks as well as in further disease related systematic studies under field and laboratory conditions. In our region conservation of indigenous varieties is a prerequisite for the preservation of biodiversity, and the recognizable quality of our national products that have preserved specificity of our natural and cultural heritage. Also the potential for branding our traditional food products could represent good strategy for future rural development.