Local Sweet Cherry varieties in Croatia: History of Production, Identity of Varieties and Perspective

We give an overview of the first written traces of cherry varieties in the oldest available literature of pomology in Croatia, dating from the period which begins in the first half of 19th century when the cherry varieties are mentioned for the first time, till the recent years. We also connect data from old literature with the results of our recent research on molecular identification of local varieties using microsatellite markers, and detection of their S-allele constitution. We have also find out that several local varieties from the region are synonyms among themselves, and we find out which international varieties might be their synonyms. We explain their economic value, potential and perspective as a traditional agricultural product important for rural sustainability. Several local sweet cherry varieties known in Croatia are produced in limited geographic areas. These varieties, as well as several other varieties from the other countries in the region (Macedonia, Slovenia) are named according to toponyms of the region of their production (village, mountain or island), or according to several saint's days around which their fruits ripen. Such way of naming is, in linguistic way, a consequence of limiting communication and trading channels through which the planting material was spread and fruits traded during the last centuries. Such way of spreading implies the possibility that some of these varieties occurred to be synonyms as a result of non-controlled introduction hundred and more years ago.