Study of the specific and varietal diversity of field crops in Bulgaria

1. The particular geographical situation of Bulgaria, its natural connection between Asia and Europe, the various landscapes, the diverse soil and climatical conditions have been and are favourable conditions for the development of a diverse vegetation.
2. The flora of the country consists of more than 5000 species; among them 19 species, 35 subspecies, 115 varieties and 60 forms have been newly described in recent times.
3. With a large specific and varietal diversity the group of field crops is represented by wheat, barley, oat, rye, chickpea,Lathyrus, lucerne, clover, rose and tlax.
4. As a result of the systematic study of 22 species of field crops the following taxa have been described as new ones: Triticum pseudopolonicum Pop. (Popov 1949/50);Tr. boeoticum Boiss. var.bulgaricum Stranski;Tr. monococcum L. var.sofianum Stranski (Stranski 1929) Secale anatolicum Boiss. var.rhodopeum (Delip.) Gan.;S. montanum Guss. var.balcanum Gan. (Jordanov 1963) Cicer arietinum L. var.afghanico-aurantiacum Koin., var.turcico-aurantiacum Koin., var.bohemico-atrum Koin. and var.hispanico-aurantiacum Koin. (Kojnov 1968) Lens esculenta Moench var.roseum Staik. and var.rubrum Staik. (Stajkov 1963) Trifolium incarnatum L. ssp.incarnatum var.intermedium Ko?. and var.minor Ko?.;Tr. pratense L. var.stojanovii Ko?. and var.stmnskii Stoj. etStef. f.velenowskyana Ko?.,Tr. alexandrinum L. var.madarensae Ko?. (Jordanov 1976).
5. The rich specific and varietal diversity of field crops gives the opportunity of carrying out an intensive and successful breeding work.