AEGEAN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

ESTABLISHMENT AND HISTORY 

The institute was established in 1963 as the “Agricultural Research Institute” and merged with the “Plant Research and Introduction Center” in 1967. The institute underwent reorganization and took its current name, “Aegean Agricultural Research Institute” (AARI) in 1987. Its responsibility area covers not only Aegean-South Marmara region, but also it works nationally on some topics as in tobacco and internationally as in plant genetic resources. 

Among the institute’s main working topics are; determination and conservation of plant diversity in Turkey, improvement of high-yielding, high quality, diseases resistant cultivars; agronomical researches; cattle and bee studies; production of breeder seed of registered cultivars, certified seedlings, and sapling, cattle breeding stock, and queenbee; integration of research findings in  agriculture.

PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES DEPARTMENT 

The department is committed to advance the conservation and use of genetic diversity for the well-being of present and future generations. Activities are summarized as survey and collection, long term conservation (ex situ and in situ), characterization and evaluation, along with documentation of all information. These studies are focus on landraces, wild ancestors of crops, wild plant species with economical values, and other plant species in natural habitat including endemic species against danger of their extinctions. The institute’s National Plant Gene Bank is at international standards. More than forty thousands seed samples of different plant groups, most of whose herbarium are present, are conserved. Additionally, over five thousand vegetative materials are conserved in field gene banks that are established as conservation gardens. In situ conservation studies are also conducted. 

FIELD CROPS DEPARTMENT 

Researches on wheat have focused on breeding programs; 10 bread-type, and 5 durum-type wheat cultivars have been improved and served to use of farmers. These registered cultivars are high-yielding and high quality and are sown in the costal and spring wheat belt in addition to the Aegean Region. 

Seven barley cultivars have been improved and registered so far. Since 1987, research priorities have been given to improving forage-type cultivars suitable to rainfed areas. In addition to this, studies are also being carried out to improve high quality malt varieties.  

    Regarding to maize, contributions have been made towards improvement of many cultivars within the framework of national program. The results of agronomic work have been introduced into the region. Studies focus on improving composite and hybrid cultivars. 

Researches on forage crops are mainly breeding-oriented. Six common vetch, 2 hairy vetch, 1 Hungarian vetch, 1 Persian clover and 1 Italian grass cultivars have been improved and registered so far. Studies towards improving synthetic cultivars in alfalfa are being conducted. Breeding of perennial grasses and annual medics of Medicago turuncatula, M. polymarpha, M. scutellata and M. rigudila have been initiated recently. Floristic composition studies on pastures of the coastal areas of  Aegean Region are also being carried out. 

The institute conducts studies on breeding and agronomy on food legumes as faba bean, chickpea, soybean, and dry bean. Five  chickpea, 3 faba bean, 1 dry bean and 1 soybean cultivars have been improved. Research on chickpea is aimed towards improving cultivars resistant to Ascochyta blight disease. 

Sunflower studies are aimed at improving hybrid, composite and synthetic cultivars for oil and confectionary types. Sesame breeding program focused on to improve branched and un-brunched cultivars with white and yellow seed color,  and  high  oil  and  yield  capacity. 

Five sesame and one sunflower cultivars have been registered. 

Seven potato cultivars have been improved. Meristem culture and rapid propagation techniques have been used in order to produce virus free basic seeds (tubers). The Elisa test has been used as a routin procedure. Certified seeds have been produced by using tissue culture techniques. 

Studies on tobacco have been carried out towards improving cultivars, agronomy, and tobacco technology. Forty-two tobacco cultivars (19 of them are tolerant to blue mold) which are suitable to important tobacco producing areas of Turkey have been improved and registered for. 

Studies on medicinal and aromatic plants are being carried on oregano, sage, capers, anise,  dye plants, mountain tea, and peppermint. Besides breeding work, studies are being carried out on the cultivation of orchids that are in danger of extinction due to their over-collection from nature.

  HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT 

Adaptation and selection techniques are used to improve cultivars in tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash, cucumber, okra, lettuce, cabbage, celery, bean, spinach, and peas; and hybrid breeding for tomato, pepper and eggplant. Two tomato, 6 pepper, 4 eggplant, 5 melon, 3 lettuce, 1 bean, 1 cucumber, 2 cauliflower, and 1 okra cultivars have been registered. Studies on mushroom have recently been initiated. 

Adaptation and selection studies are carried out on fruits as plumps, apricots, peaches, cherries, quinces, pears, pomegranate, and strawberry. As a result of these studies 11 cherry, 11 green plump, 16 European plump, 18 Japanese plump, 8 plump stock, 3 quince, 21 pomegranate cultivars have been registered and stock nurseries of these cultivars have been established. Studies on improvement of new cultivars adapted to the region contain almond, quince, chestnut and orange mandarin satsuma.  

Studies on ornamental plants are carried out towards preventing losses on natural plant habitat due to harvest without production, introducing new opportunities to producers as well as determining plants for in-door and out-door use.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DEPARTMENT 

In early 1970’s studies began with adaptation and production of high quality breeding stock on Holsteins, Brown-Swiss and Simmental cattle and were followed by research conducted on cattle husbandry animal nutrition, feeds and silage. High-quality sires and heifers answer to stock demand of farmers. 

Studies have been conducted on the determination of honey production of bee populations and improvement of production techniques for honey, pollen and royal jelly. High-quality queenbee production has been realized. Studies on the adaptation of pure and hybrid Italian bees and obtaining pure lines of bees of the Izmir district are conducted.  

   PRODUCTIONS 

The institute has over 200 registered varieties, some of which are used beyond the region as well as in coastal areas of Turkey. Some of these varieties also occupy 95 % of production area in the region. Production of elite and breeder seed, which is the first step in seed to be used by farmers, is carried on through the seed programs in sufficient quantities.

   EXTENSION STUDIES 

Extension and training programs have been conducted within the framework of Agricultural Extension and Applied Research Project and Agricultural Research, Extension and Training Co-ordination Program since 1984. In this respect; the institute organizes meetings, panels, courses, trainings, traveling working groups, field trips; demonstrations, and on farm trials. 

   PUBLICATIONS 

The institute maintains its publication service through technical books, farmer bulletins and technical leaflets. A periodical  ANADOLU (Journal of AARI) is published twice a year.