Article

Wild legume species and genetic diversity of the Mediterranean Basin provide an invaluable source of traits for the improvement of cultivated temperate forage and pulse legume crops. The research illustrates how the existing geo-referenced passport data associated with accessions of Cicer, Lathyrus, Lens, Medicago, Pisum and Vicia species can be used to identify gaps in current ex situ conservation and develop a more systematic in situ conservation strategy for both the genera individually and for all six genera combined. Taxonomic, ecological, geographic and conservation information for the six genera were collated from ICARDA and GBIF datasets as well as datasets collected by the authors over the last 25 years. The combined database contained 200,281 unique geo-referenced records (Cicer - 452, Lathyrus - 61,081, Lens - 672, Medicago -42,248, Pisum - 728 and Vicia - 95,100) collected between 1884 and 2008. Patterns of specific richness, based on the germplasm accession and herbarium specimen data, were analysed and in situ hotspots identified using complementarity analysis. The ex situ conservation status of each genus was assessed and used to provide a priority ranking for future collection priorities in the Mediterranean Basin. Specifically, target IUCN-recognised protected areas are identified as potential sites to establish genetic reserves. However, the premier temperate forage and pulse legume hotspot on the Syrian/Lebanese border is not coincident with any existing internationally recognised protected areas and here there is a need to establish a novel protected area.