10.04.2025 08:31
In the only reverse tulip collection garden in Turkey, located at the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute, the reverse tulips that survive for only 20 days a year have bloomed. Those who pick this endemic flower, which is facing the threat of extinction in nature, will face a fine of 577,000 Turkish lira starting from 2025.
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In the garden of Turkey's only reverse tulip collection located at the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute, there are 38 species, 34 of which are sourced from different regions of the country and 4 from abroad. Agricultural Engineer Meral Aslay, who stated that they collected reverse tulips from the nature of many provinces in Turkey with special permission, said, "Cultivation and breeding studies on reverse tulips have been ongoing since 2006. These studies are long-term and require a period of 4-7 years to obtain a hybrid individual. As a result of our studies, 27 hybrid variety candidates have been obtained." Emphasizing that many of the reverse tulip species are endemic and under protection, Aslay noted that various disciplines are conducting studies on some species to both present them for future generations and to preserve them, stating, "Collecting bulbous plants from nature can be done by obtaining permission from the General Directorate of Plant Production. After obtaining research permission, we collected materials from 34 species in Erzincan, Erzurum, Bitlis, Ardahan, Kars, Van, Hakkari, Elazığ, Malatya, Ağrı, Siirt, Şırnak, Adıyaman, Şanlıurfa, Kahramanmaraş, Edirne, Antalya, Muğla, Bayburt, Tunceli, Gaziantep, and Hatay provinces since 2006. In the Reverse Tulip Collection Garden, there are 34 species native to our country and 4 species sourced from abroad, totaling 38 species," she stated.
"PROTECTED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS"
Stating that Turkey's only reverse tulip genetic resources garden has been established in Erzincan, Agricultural Engineer Meral Aslay said, "Due to the preservation and continuity of 82 populations belonging to 38 species in the Turkey reverse tulip garden, significant contributions have been made to the sustainability of our natural resources and the conservation of our biodiversity. Primarily, reverse tulip species, whose population numbers are decreasing in nature, have been protected for future generations. This will serve as a resource for future scientific studies. While helping the community to recognize reverse tulip species, the developed reverse tulip varieties can be used as ornamental plants in landscaping. At the same time, by promoting the cultivation of these plants in cultural environments, unauthorized collection from nature will be prevented. The genus Fritillaria is among the important genetic resources of our country. There are 170 species in the world, 52 of which are found in our country's nature, and 29 of these species are endemic. This situation is an indication of how rich we are," she said. Agricultural Engineer Meral Aslay stated that it is prohibited to export species belonging to Turkey without permission, saying, "The penalty for collecting these species from nature without permission and for the destruction of nature is 577,000 lira as of 2025. The Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute, established in 1986, is one of the 49 research institutes affiliated with the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies.
The collection garden established at the institute has 1,526 pots belonging to 38 species and 22 cultivation trays in an area of 2 decares. There has not been much research on the reverse tulip genus in the world. In our country, however, cultivation and breeding studies have started at the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute since 2006. Reverse tulip breeding studies are a first in Turkey. The studies have been supported by TAGEM, and the first reverse tulip varieties, completely of local origin, have been developed and the breeder's rights have been protected using selection breeding and hybridization methods," she stated.
"OUR AIM IS TO INCREASE OUR LOCAL AND NATIONAL REVERSE TULIP VARIETIES"
Samet Karataş, the Director of the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute, stated that the first and comprehensive studies on reverse tulips in Turkey began at the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute in 2006. Institute Director Karataş said, "As the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute, we work under the General Directorate of Agricultural Research Policies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. We have a variety of research topics. One of them is vegetable growing and ornamental plants. Here, studies have been conducted specifically on ornamental plants, especially reverse tulips. We are in the only reverse tulip collection garden in Turkey. The reverse tulip studies we initiated and have been conducting since 2006 are ongoing. Our main aim here is to increase our local and national reverse tulip varieties and to provide new resources to the ornamental plant sector. Additionally, the collection and preservation of varieties that will suffer from genetic erosion are also being carried out here," he said. The administrative fine amount is 577,000 lira. The reverse tulips, which are legendary for their beauty, can only be seen for 20 days a year. Although their natural habitat is wide, reverse tulips, which are among the most damaged natural species due to their beauty, are being protected through projects while significant penalties are being imposed on those who cause damage. The administrative fine amount for those who harm reverse tulips is 577,000 lira.
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