Department of Fruit Plant Acclimatization: history, scientific achievements, and prospects

The Department of Fruit Plant Acclimatization of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is a leading scientific unit in the fields of introduction, acclimatization, and breeding of new, non-traditional, neglected, and underutilized (NUS) fruit plants. From 1946 to 2025, the department has established one of the richest collections of fruit crops in Ukraine, comprising 855 taxa from 39 genera and 20 families, including species with food, medicinal, and ornamental value. The department’s research activities cover the study of adaptive and reproductive abilities of species, biochemical and allelopathic analyses, evaluation of breeding potential and winter hardiness, as well as the development of an adaptive introduction concept that enhances plant viability and stimulates morphogenetic processes under new conditions. Thanks to long-term research, numerous promising fruit plant species from the world flora have been introduced into cultivation, including Actinidia spp., Asimina triloba, Schisandra chinensis, Cornus mas, Ziziphus jujuba, and others. Additionally, 75 cultivars developed by the department have been registered in the State Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine. The practical significance of the department’s work is evident in the introduction of cultivars into industrial, farm, and amateur horticulture, increasing the nutritional and medicinal value of fruits, preserving biodiversity, and developing resilient agroecosystems. The scientific results contribute to a deeper understanding of adaptation mechanisms, assessment of genetic potential, and integration of NUS into breeding programs. The department actively collaborates with international institutions, participates in global networks and conferences, and contributes to the journal Agrobiodiversity for Improving Nutrition, Health and Life Quality, ensuring worldwide utilization of research outcomes and supporting Ukraine’s socio-economic programs.