Persian Walnuts (Juglans regia L.) in Central Asia

Persian walnut, Juglans regia L., is grown as an economically valuable crop in a number of semi-arid and temperate regions worldwide. Nevertheless, the species re- mains underutilized when considering its wide native range and inherent genetic diversity. The center of origin of J. regia includes Central Asia, which covers a large and di- verse expanse of land in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and southern Kazakhstan. Much of this re- gion has been inaccessible to the western world for centu- ries. However, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it has become increasingly open and opportunities for re- ciprocal germplasm collection, exchange, and scientific col - laborations are growing. To bring increased attention to the valuable J. regia genetic resources endemic to this region and to promote their better utilization, management, and preservation, a brief description and history of the species from a Central Asian perspective, along with recent and on- going activities, including collection and evaluation efforts at Rutgers, are discussed here.

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