Abstract
This study attempts, above all, to provide a summary, on a strictly scientific basis, about the strategies of conservation of autochthonous agrobiodiversity followed in Italy. A special focus is dedicated to vegetables and, therefore, could represent a contribution to improve the national strategy for the safeguarding of its agrobiodiversity in general. The paper offers also an outlook on the most critical factors of ex situ conservation and actions which need to be taken. Some examples of ‘novel’ recovered neglected crops are also given. Finally a case study is proposed on ‘Mugnolicchio’, a neglected race of Brassica oleracea L., cultivated in Altamura (Ba) in southern Italy, that might be considered as an early step in the evolution of broccoli (B. oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) like ‘Mugnoli’ another neglected race described from Salento (Apulia).
Highlights
The present study is a small review reported by the authors after a number of safeguarding projects and collecting missions had been carried out, since the 1970s, in all Italian agricultural districts [1,2], including small islands [3] and linguistic areas [4].1.1
Agrobiodiversity plays a dual role: on the one hand, it is still strongly linked with farmers who manage their farms traditionally and not as real “enterprises” and, on the other hand, their highly qualitative production awarded by many geographical indications, e.g., Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
For Italy, MiPAAF has the responsibility for the implementation of the FAO Treaty; MiPAAF entrusted the CREA-FRU with the scientific coordination of the actions for the collection, conservation, characterization, evaluation, and enhancement of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR)
Summary
The present study is a small review reported by the authors after a number of safeguarding projects and collecting missions had been carried out, since the 1970s, in all Italian agricultural districts [1,2], including small islands [3] and linguistic areas [4]
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