Key results:

- Enrichment of collections in the IC-Knezha and IRGR-Sadovo through collection, evaluation and storage.

- Database with taxonomic, ecological-geographic and evaluation characteristics.

- Identification of drought tolerance alleles (SSR, SNP, functional markers) in maize and grasses.

- Comprehensive assessment of forage qualities of old maize varieties and wild relatives of cereal grasses, including phenotypic assessment according to FAO descriptors (phenotypic, biochemical, molecular) for selection.

- Inventory and access to collections in the National Portal (BGPLANTNET).

- Reporting on forums and publications in journals.

Practical benefits: Expansion of breeding programs, accessible information for farmers, volunteer networks, promotion of local foods.

Capacity and impact: The results of the project will be part of the dissertations of two of the doctoral students included in the project team – one from the IC-Knezha with a topic related to local maize populations and one from the IRGR-Sadovo with a topic related to forage grasses.