Collecting crop genetic resources in two Italian linguistic (Occitan and Ladin) islands and west Liguria with historical and ethnobotanical notes

A research on exploration, collecting and safeguarding plant genetic resources in Italian linguistic islands by Institute of Plant Genetics of the National Research Council of Bari (Italy) and the Institute of Crop Sciences, University of Kassel (Germany) started in 1996. In 2010 two other linguistic areas (Occitan and Ladin) were visited with the same aim. In addition, also west Liguria was covered to complete a previous exploration in that region. In all 99 accessions belonging to 51 taxa were sampled from 29 collecting sites. Rare crops for Italy were found e.g. Citron melon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai subsp. lanatus var. citroides (Bailey) Mansf. ex Greb.], old landraces of root chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), Artemisia umbelliformis La. cultivated, ancient populations of rye selected for straw, rutabaga (Brassica napus L. var. napobrassica [L.] Rchb.), 'bleu potatoes' (Solanum sp.), etc. In conclusion the Occitans and Ladin linguistic islands still conserve worthy crop genetic resources but similar to other Italian regions inhabited by ethnic minorities, the traditional customs and language are losing importnace. This phenomenon also negatively affects the cultivation of landraces causing their genetic erosion and, in many cases, extinction. A greater attention by the local government departments is desirable and necessary.