Activities for exploiting Italian vegetable germplasm of interest for innovating vegetable production chains

Horticulture involves the cultivation of a diverse range of highly nutritious crops, including vegetables, roots, tubers, and aromatic plants. These crops are grown not only in rural areas but also within cities and their surrounding regions. Some of these crops, such as cucurbits, which include cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, and squash, have undergone a domestication process, resulting in the development of various cultivars, each adapted to different pedoclimatic conditions. The domestication process, similarly, has also originated a wide variety of Brassica oleracea complex species (n=9). Broccoli, cauliflower, and kale exhibit a high diversity, indicating their association with different stages of the same domestication process. Sicily has been identified as a region where these crops, with their crop wild relatives (CWRs), are present. The area is characterized by a wide variety of Brassica oleracea landraces (LRs), which are mainly cultivated in peri-urban farms and home gardens. Some wild Brassica species are widespread in the Mediterranean coasts and this high diversity could be a genetic source to improve the existing Brassica crops. Several studies have shown the distinctive nutraceutical profile of these crops, characterized by a high content of bioactive compounds, such as glucosinolates, phenolic compounds, and ascorbic acid, which present antioxidant activity against chronic-degenerative human diseases. Furthermore, wild Brassica species have contributed to enhancing the agronomic traits of cultivated Brassica crops, including resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. This discussion explores the diversity of Brassica oleracea complex species, focusing on the genetic and nutraceutical profile, as evident from the results obtained by the European project H2020 BRESOV (“Breeding for Resilient, Efficient, and Sustainable Organic Vegetable Production”). The results of these studies view the promising potential of utilizing horticultural diversity to promote sustainable and efficient organic vegetable production.