Carrot (Daucus carota L.) germplasm collection in Plant Genetic Resources Lab. of RIVC, Skierniewice includes 570 accessions (304 accessions of cultivated carrot and 266 accessions of wild species). Results of estimation of the variability of morphological and functional traits of carrot and their usefulness for breeding are presented. During the year 2004, twenty four carrot accessions originated from the Netherlands, Japan, Moldova, Slovakia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Poland with regards to 32 traits selected from IPGRI and UPOV descriptor list were characterized. These traits included: leaf colour, root diameter 1 cm above root tip/end (cm), root tip/end shape, root surface, green colouration of the interior of the top, root type grouping, root shoulder shape, root length, root and core diameter, root weight, colour, yield, and structure. Chemical composition of roots (dry matter, sugar content, carotene and nitrate) was also determined. The results confirm a great variability of the valorized traits. For example the marketable yield ranged from 36 to 86%, weight of roots from 79 to 256 g, carotene content from 104.7 to 201.4 mg·kg⁻¹ FM, total sugar from 52.4 to, 80.8 g·kg⁻¹ FM, monosaccharides from 27.0 to 44,0 g·kg⁻¹ FM, nitrogen content from 100 do 400 mg KNO₃·kg⁻¹ FM. Carrot local varieties provide new source of genetic variability for breeding.