Mikić, Aleksandar, Smykal, Petr, Kenicer, Gregory, Vishnyakova, Margarita, Sarukhanyan, Nune, Akopian, Janna, Vanyan, Armen, Gabrielyan, Ivan, Smykalova, Iva, Sherbakova, Ekaterina, Zorić, Lana, Atlagić, Jovanka, Zeremski-Škorić, Tijana, Ćupina, Branko, Krstić, Đorđe, Jajić, Igor, Antanasović, Svetlana, Đorđević, Vuk, Mihailović, Vojislav, Ivanov, Alexandr, Ochatt, Sergio, Ambrose, Mike, Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops [Novi Sad], Palacky University Olomouc, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (RAAS), Green Lane Agricultural Assistance, Partenaires INRAE, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia [Yerevan] (NAS RA), Agritec Ltd, University of Novi Sad, Institut of Field and Vegetable C, Department of Crop Genetics, and John Innes Centre [Norwich]
International audience; Vavilovia formosa (Stev.) Fed. is a relict, endangered species from the highlands of Caucasus and Near East. It was described in 1812, with often uncertain status and finally recognised as a separate genus of the tribe Fabeae Rchb. Our informal international group was established in 2007 to revive the interest in this species since it had been seriously neglected for decades. This review gives an overview of the accumulated knowledge on V. formosa and presents the results of its most recent multidisciplinary research. Three expeditions were made to two locations in Armenia in 2009, providing the material for anatomical, morphological, chemical and molecular analysis. Unlike previous attempts, ex situ conservation in Yerevan and in vitro propagation, important for potential interspecies hybridisation, are successful. Molecular tools were used to clarify the taxonomical position of V. formosa, often considered the closest to the extinct ancestor of the whole tribe. The analysis of four informative regions of chloroplast and nuclear DNA showed that V. formosa belonged to the same clade with Lathyrus and Pisum and with a distinct status. Preservation and maintenance of V. formosa remains the only basis for further development of all other scientific aspects, especially breeding and uses in agronomy. Acknowledgements The project TR-31024 of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia and the project Sustainable preservation of indigenous South East European legumes and their traditional food and feed products (SEELEGUMES) within the EU SEE-ERA.PLUS Net programme (2010-2011).