Rubus as potential use species for commercialization in Lebanon

Abstract

Rubus is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, subfamily Rosoideae, which contains 12 subgenus. Raspberries, blackberries, and dewberries are common, widely distributed members of this genus. It is native to Asia, Europe, North and South America. Rubus have been used in Europe for over 2000 years, for eating, medicinal purposes, and as hedges to keep out marauders. Most of these plants have woody stems with prickles like roses spines, bristles, and gland-tipped hairs. In Lebanon Rubus was identified as underutilized species with potential use for commercialization. No real plantations of Rubus are present in Lebanon with the exception of a few individual projects were carried out in some sites of the Bekaa region and South of Lebanon. These plantations are intended for local use or to market at small scale. A good management of these underutilized species may lead to a more widespread use of these species. Within the cooperation project between WLI and the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute, a demonstrative Rubus orchard was planted in Tal Amara station of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute in order to enhance the plantation of this genus in different regions of Lebanon.