@conference{
author = "Savić, Aleksandra and Jarić, Snežana and Dajić Stevanović, Zora and Duletić-Laušević, Sonja",
year = "2018",
abstract = "Th is study documents the ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal knowledge of the local inhabitants in the region Polimlje in Southwest Serbia, focused on recording rare autochthonous pear varieties (Pyrus communis). A special feature of Polimlje, as an unique multiethnic complex of natural and cultural heritage, is the great diversity of indigenous varieties of pears and breeding tradition in the households for hundreds of years. Objectives of the study were: to establish the diversity of indigenous pear varieties in order to preserve the unique P. communis gene fond characteristic to this region, and to explore their use in ethnomedicine and traditional food production. Th e opened and semi-structured interviews were done with 40 people aged between 30-80 years (29 men and 11 women), during June - September 2015, on the territory of 23 villages. Th e results of this study indicate the presence of 23 autochtonous pear varieties: 7 are determined as rare (Vidovača, Ječmenjača, Ilinjača, Lubeničarka, Medunak, Zimnjača, Takiša) and 16 as extremely rare (Jagodarka, Mirisavka, Sijerak, Turundžija, Stambolka, Čađavica, Okruglica, Mesnjača, Jarac, Bazva, Tepavac, Lončara, Kantaruša, Ovčara, Turšijara, Budaljača). A lot of varieties remain in the old and abandoned homes and the rugged terrain. For medicinal purpose pear is used (fresh or dried fruit, juice or compote) as antihypertensive remedy (65.2%), antidiabetic or anticholesterol (63%), anticonstipation remedy (54.3%), as well as for body mass reduction (65.2%). Tea made from the pear skin is used for urolithiasis - stone and sand in the kidney (36.9%), pear tea and fresh fruit juice are applied as antirheumatics (26%) and for cancer prevention (10.87%). Pears are consumed as fresh fruit, in pies and cakes, or they are processed in a compote, juice, jam or marmalade, baby food, jelly, syrup, dried fruit, pear brandy and other traditional products (sita, vodnjika). Depopulation of investigated rural area is directly related to disappearance of pear varieties gene pool, thereby losing traditional knowledge. Preservation can be achieved with in situ methods, by raising the awareness of the inhabitants and through the support of the State.",
publisher = "Belgrade: Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden "Jevremovac", Faculty of Biology - University of Belgrade",
journal = "Book of abstracts: 7th Balkan Botanical Congress; 2018 Sep 10-14; Novi Sad, Serbia. (Botanica Serbica; Vol. 42; Suppl. 1).",
title = "Diversity of rare indigenous pear varieties (Pyrus communis L.) In the region Polimlje, (southwest Serbia) and their use in ethnomedicine and nutrition",
pages = "196-197",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_5421"
}