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Samonikle sadne vrste v Republiki Hrvaški
Wild growing fruit species in Republic of Croatia
du B r a v k a du j M o v i ć p u r g a r , zo r a n Ši n d r a k , da r k o M i h e l j , Sa n d r a v o ć a , 
b o r i S D u r a l i j a
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 
HR – 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; dpurgar@agr.hr
Thanks to its geographical position and preservation of natural habitats, Croatia 
distinguishes itself from many other small countries by great biodiversity of wild growing 
fruit species. After study of existing literature data and terrain exploration, a large number 
of species are found in following genus: Rosa (37 taxa), Rubus (33 taxa), Prunus (21 taxa), 
Sorbus (13 taxa), Crataegus (10 taxa), Ribes (9 taxa), Fragaria (6 taxa), Malus (5 taxa), 
Cornus (4 taxa), Pyrus (4 taxa), Vaccinium (4 taxa), Corylus (3 taxa), Sambucus (3 taxa), 
Juglans (2 taxa) and Castanea (1 taxa). Owing to long-lasting process of natural selection, 
wild fruit species have adapted to ecological conditions of habitats and developed natural 
resistance mechanisms to biotic and abiotic environmental factors. It has been assumed that 
populations of wild fruit species in Croatia are unique, and that nutritional value of theirs 
fruits are exceptionally better in comparison to commercially grown fruit varieties.
Fruits of free growing wild fruit species are gathered from the nature by local 
inhabitants, weekenders and excursionists. There are also a great number of examples when 
wild growing fruit species are utilise as rootstock in production of cultivated woody fruit 
species.
The main research purpose in framework of project “Biodiversity of wild growing fruits 
populations in Croatia” is to establish a representations of individual wild fruit species from 
genus Rubus, Vaccinium, Fragaria and Prunus over the Croatian territory, and, based on 
knowledge of their characteristics, to estimate potential and theirs utilisation in the future.
du B r a v k a du j M o v i ć pu r g a r eT al.: Samonikle sadne vrste v Republiki Hrvaški