The presence in Italy of common bean cultivation dates back to the half of XVI century. Germplasm from both Mesoamerican and Andean common bean gene pools was dispersed across Europe where a widening of their ecological range occurred. As a consequence the species underwent an adaptative evolutionary process resulting in additional variation, so that South western Europe has been proposed as a secondary centre of genetic diversity. Several collecting missions carried out in the same period have shown that almost all Italian regions have an own group of local varieties selected over the time by farmers. This germplasm is characterised by a high morphological variation attributable to succeeding introductions from the Americas, adaptation to a wide range of environments, utilisation of different agronomic practices, uses and consumer preferences changing from region to region. Part of this precious autochthonous germplasm is conserved in national germplasm gene banks. Recently some regional gene banks were created to better support the collection, characterisation and safeguard of local population still surviving on farm. This activity being included in finalised projects has been focused only on the germplasm of some regions such as Basilicata, Piedmont, Marche and Lazio. The attribution of European marks to local populations represent another useful opportunity to sustain their on farm survival. Nowadays the PGI mark (protect geographic indication) has been obtained by common beans from Lamon, Sorana and Sarconi (Veneto, Tuscany and Basilicata region, respectively), while the attribution is in progress for common bean from Cuneo, Atina and Rotonda (Piedmont, Lazio and Basilicata region, respectively).
Italian common bean germplasm. An overview on the safeguard, evaluation and utilisation activities
Piergiovanni AR;Lioi L
2009
Abstract
The presence in Italy of common bean cultivation dates back to the half of XVI century. Germplasm from both Mesoamerican and Andean common bean gene pools was dispersed across Europe where a widening of their ecological range occurred. As a consequence the species underwent an adaptative evolutionary process resulting in additional variation, so that South western Europe has been proposed as a secondary centre of genetic diversity. Several collecting missions carried out in the same period have shown that almost all Italian regions have an own group of local varieties selected over the time by farmers. This germplasm is characterised by a high morphological variation attributable to succeeding introductions from the Americas, adaptation to a wide range of environments, utilisation of different agronomic practices, uses and consumer preferences changing from region to region. Part of this precious autochthonous germplasm is conserved in national germplasm gene banks. Recently some regional gene banks were created to better support the collection, characterisation and safeguard of local population still surviving on farm. This activity being included in finalised projects has been focused only on the germplasm of some regions such as Basilicata, Piedmont, Marche and Lazio. The attribution of European marks to local populations represent another useful opportunity to sustain their on farm survival. Nowadays the PGI mark (protect geographic indication) has been obtained by common beans from Lamon, Sorana and Sarconi (Veneto, Tuscany and Basilicata region, respectively), while the attribution is in progress for common bean from Cuneo, Atina and Rotonda (Piedmont, Lazio and Basilicata region, respectively).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
