The Impact of Global Climate Change on the Species Composition of Agricultural Crops in the Lori Region

Key words: climate change, crops, tomato, broccoli, lettuce, brussels sprouts, crop species composition Over the last 50 years, under the changes of climate conditions, the species composition of crops grown in the agricultural areas of the Lori region has included various types of tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea convar. oleracea var. gemmifera), broccoli (B. oleracea convar. botrytis var. italica), and kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes). The study focused on the non-traditional crops of red and yellow tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) grown in the Lori region under the changes of climate conditions. The concentration and content of chlorophyll a and b, as well as carotenoids, were studied in the fruits of the examined plants. Samples were taken from different locations in the Lori region: Test Site 1 – Vanadzor town, Test Site 2 – Geghasar village, and Test Site 3 – Odzun village. The concentration and the amount of carotenoids in the fruits of the red tomato plants were lowest in the samples from Test Site 3 and highest in the samples from Test Site 1. In the yellow tomato fruit flesh, the concentration of chlorophyll Ca and chlorophyll Cb was highest in the fruit flesh of the tomatoes from Test Site 3 and lowest in the tomatoes from Test Site 1. The concentrations and contents of chlorophylls and carotenoids are inversely proportional.