We will answer only to a part of the session title (Horticulture and biodiversity: contribution to its loss, conservation or increase?) which includes the impact of the cultivars and cultivation methods on the biodiversity. Our presentation will focus on the diversity of fruits and vegetables crops in Europe at the species, cultigroup and cultivar levels and its evolution with time. Due to climatic conditions and cultural traditions, only a part of the world fruit and vegetable diversity is cultivated in Europe. Until the Second World War, most of the cultivars were locally based. Since the 1950', major evolutions have affected most of the cultivated species at several levels: