Many crop wild relatives are usually widely distributed species, and in this relation a question arises about selecting populations of special importance for conservation. Using Rubus idaeus as an example, we propose a compound selection of wild populations for in situ conservation. Twelve raspberry populations in the Leningrad region have been evaluated from the point of view of their significance for in situ conservation. To exclude the run-wild forms from the evaluation process, we tried to identify them applying a mathematical model developed by statusmetry method. The constructed model is based on morphological features of leaves of primocanes and helps to distinguish the wild forms from the cultivated and run-wild ones. The wild raspberry populations were screened for plants with features useful for cultivated raspberry improvement such as waxy cover presence, yellow fruiting plants, spinelessness, fruiting primocanes and others. The diversity of wild raspberry populations was assessed by variation of morphological features, presence of botanical varieties and polymorphism of seed storage proteins. The results of viability status assessment for the chosen populations reflect the perspectives of their development and permit to determine the strategy and measures for optimal conservation.Keywords Crop wild relatives AE Evaluation AE In situ conservation AE Rubus idaeus AE Storage protein polymorphism AE Wild raspberry From the point of view of evolution and genetics, crop wild relatives (CWR) are the species of native flora that either belong to the same genus with cultivar, or participated in the cultivars evolution of other genus complexes. Together with the cultivated plants, CWR compose the plant genetic resources of any country that should be preserved for the future (Vavilov 1931;Brezhnev and Korovina 1981;Korovina 1986).At present the in situ conservation method is comprising of a number of measures taken to preserve the species and ecosystems in their native habitats, including maintenance and recovery of the viable populations of the target species (Maxted et al. 1997). However, many CWR are widely distributed species, and in this relation a question arises about selecting populations of special importance for conservation. Using raspberry Rubus idaeus (Rubus subgenera Idaeobatus (Focke) Focke sect. Batidaea Dumort. ser. Euidaei Focke) as an example, we propose a compound selection of valuable wild populations for in situ conservation.