ISHS Acta Horticulturae 623: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Plant Genetic Resources, The Fabric of Horticulture's Future
THE CONSERVATION ACTIVITY ON FRUIT TREE GERMPLASM IN ITALY |
| Authors: | A. Sartori, F. Grassi, F. Vitellozzi, M.G. Piazza, C. Fideghelli |
| Keywords: | Fruit tree, Genetic resources, National inventory, Database |
| Abstract:
The Istituto Sperimentale per la Frutticoltura (ISF), with the support of the Ministry for Agricultural and Forestry Policy (Mi.P.A.F.), responsible in Italy for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), is carrying out and co-ordinating a project on plant genetic resources. One of the two actions of this project – aimed at coordinating and harmonizing the ex situ collection, conservation, characterization, evaluation and utilization activities on PGRFA achieved in Italy by different Institutions and entities – is particularly focused on the assessment and study of the management and the safeguard of fruit tree genetic resources present in most of the Italian research institutes belonging to Mi.P.A.F., Universities, the National Research Council and regional research centres. Among the 19 Institutes interviewed, 26 species of fruit trees for a total number of 11,024 accessions are conserved ex situ. Considering the number of unique varieties, it amounts to 7,465, 41% of which are of Italian origin. Most of the fruit tree varieties collected consists of cultivars and old varieties (77.4%). Breeder’s selections amount to 3.1%, while wild material and rootstock cultivars count 5.1% and 0.4% of the varieties, respectively. For 13.8% of the varieties it was not possible to acquire this type of information. All the data concerning the accessions conserved were collated according to a descriptor list (passport and preliminary characterization and evaluation data) and, in order to spread the relative information and to allow a wider use of this material, an on-line searchable database was developed and it is going to be available for any kind of users. This project has also permitted to identify a list of varieties of different species, which will be the starting material for the establishment of the Centro Germoplasma Frutticolo-CGF (Fruit Tree Germplasm Centre) at ISF, within the “Parco dell’Appia Antica” the countryside of Roma. | |
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