On July 17-24, 2023, deputy dean of the Graduate School of Science, Art and Technology, Doctor of Philosophy in Biology, Mahammad Eldarov, and Associate Professor of the Department of Life Sciences, Javid Ojagi, visited the southern region of Azerbaijan (Jalilabad, Masalli, Lankaran, Astara, Lerik), Mountainous Shirvan and the northern regions of the Greater Caucasus (Shamakhi, Ismayilli, Gabala, Oguz, Sheki) to study the in situ distribution and population structure of wild ancestors of cultivated plants in Azerbaijan.

During the expedition, the populations of plants belonging to the wild ancestors of more than 100 cultivated plants (wheat, barley, oats, sorghum, oatmeal, rye, vicia, alfalfa, stainfoin, Trifolium, Astragalus, wild onion, wild carrot, wild apple, etc.) were studied on 25 routes, and new distribution areas of many plants were determined.

Data of the collected plants were recorded on the international descriptor form and three-dimensional spatial indicators were determined using a GPS device. In situ population distribution structure was studied based on the criteria (category and criteria) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.