Plant genetic resources in a touristic island: the case of Lefkada (Ionian Islands, Greece)

Lefkada is one of the islands of the Ionian Sea and disposes interesting biodiversity both in crop landraces and in wild relatives. It is also one of the most famous touristic attractions in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, thus traditional agriculture is under great pressure from tourism. Nevertheless, Lefkada’s mountainous relief has apparently preserved some diversity of landraces in upland villages. A collecting expedition was organized in September 2010 and a second (minor) in 2012 in order to assess the current status of landraces in a touristic island such as Lefkada. The results are discussed and compared with previous expeditions in the island. Landraces still cultivated, others that are considered lost, and information about their traditional uses are presented. Finally, the potential for the exploitation of landraces in Lefkada’s touristic environment is discussed.