Integrated Assessment of Oregano (Origanum Vulgare L.) Accessions from the ex situ Collection of Genetic Resources

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) is one of the priority medicinal and aromatic plants in Europe because of its broad potential for use and distribution assessments of the species. The involvement of oregano genetic resources in cultivation can solve the problems of depletion of natural habitats and allows receiving high yield in marginal meteorological conditions. Also, ex situ conservation is the most applicable method for conserving local species of medicinal and aromatic plants in Nordic Europe. There is limited information about the characterisation and evaluation of oregano genetic resources in Latvia and Europe. In this study, long-term observations on 44 oregano accessions maintained at the ex situ collection of medicinal and aromatic plants of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, were characterised by the Draft Descriptor List under the agro-climatic conditions of Latvia. Integrated assessment of oregano genetic resources was made to recommend the most valuable accessions for growing.