Proceedings of the Sixth International Symposium on Brassicas and Eighteenth Crucifer Genetics Workshop

The 6th International Symposium on Brassicas and 18th Crucifer Genetics Workshop, also known as ‘Brassica2012’, took place in Catania (Sicily) from 12th to 16th of November 2012, organized by the Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agrarie ed Alimentari (DISPA) of Catania University under the aegis of the International Society of Horticultural Science (ISHS). The Brassica2012 Symposium was devoted to the Exploitation of Brassica diversity for improving the agriculture chain, and it received the patronage of the Società di Ortoflorofrutticoltura Italiana (SOI), Società Italiana di Agronomia (SIA), Società Italiana di Genetica Agraria (SIGA), Società Italiana di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari (SISTAL) and Società Italiana di Patologia Vegetale (SIPaV). During the opening session, Prof. Ferdinando Branca welcomed more than 190 participants from 30 countries, introducing the Brassicaceae diversity expressed in Sicily, which represents an important area of domestication of Brassicas in the Mediterranean region and representing a crucial primary gene pool. ISHS representatives included Prof. Joao Silva Dias, Chair of the Brassica Working Group, and Prof. Silvana Nicola, Chair of Vegetable Section, who on behalf of the ISHS, handed over to the Convener, Prof. Ferdinando Branca, the ISHS medal in recognition of his meritorious service to the Society. Six keynote speeches introduced the eight sessions were devoted to: Crucifer Genetic; Genetic Diversity Conservation and Use; Biotechnology and Breeding; Nutraceuticals and Processing; and Agronomy and Pest and Diseases. In addition were three workshops devoted to Crucifer genetics; Isatis; and Clubroot. The sessions and workshops consisted of 75 oral presentations and 139 posters. Brassicas are widely grown around the world for many uses, as popular vegetable crops, oil production, and fodder, and their use is expanding to novel applications including nutraceutical, bioenergy, and biofumigation. The increased interest and research in Brassicaceae species have stimulated many researchers around the world to exploit Brassica genome information for crop development and improvement. The growth of genetic and genomic resources is supporting the improvement and diversification of traditional Brassica crops, with applications for specific traits as well as exploiting new species that can be introduced as novel crops. During the Symposium we had the opportunity to appreciate the historical, naturalistic, social and gastronomic aspects of Sicily. The social dinner was hosted at the Palazzo Biscari, the most magnificent Baroque style building in Catania, while on the final Symposium day the technical excursion visited a Messina farm in the peri-urban Catania vegetable growing area; the castle of Nelson in Maniace where we had lunch and appreciated both Brassicas the traditional cuisine of Catania province. We had also the opportunity to visit and taste the wine of the Vivera company at Linguaglossa. Both of these last events were not only an escape from the full and intensive scientific program but also an excellent opportunity to get to know each other and learn more about related scientific activities. In spite of the world economic crisis, the most active international researchers on Brassicas attended Brassica2012 for looking for new solutions to build up a sustainable new economy, and to share and explore the most recent results of diverse research activities. The research presented and discussed during the Symposium offered several options for processing and produce innovation assisted by the wide diversity present in Brassicaceae species. Brassica2012 is a starting point for exploiting all information presented, and for extending relationships among the participants to deal with the development of common activities and collaborations on Brassicas. The scientific contributions presented at Brassica2012 were reviewed by international experts and they represent the most recent advances on the exploitation of Brassicas around the world.