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Molecular markers for promoting agro-biodiversity conservation: a case study from Italy. How cowpea landraces were saved from extinction

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Abstract

Landraces (LRs) are crop populations that are locally grown by farmers; they have a strategic role to play in rebuilding healthy and complex agro-ecosystems, but are at risk of extinction. This paper outlines how some LRs were rescued with the support of modern techniques such as molecular markers. Cowpea LRs from Umbria, Italy, were initially characterized for morphological, organoleptic and genetic traits and reintroduced among farmers. These activities led to an expansion of the area under LR based cowpea cultivation and increased farmers’ income. To encourage further LR cultivation a request for the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status has been promoted. Investigations were carried out to determine if it is possible to certify that the product actually belongs to the traditional agricultural and cultural context of the cultivation area. The genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships among local LRs, other LRs, commercial varieties, and other taxa were investigated with five AFLP markers. Although genetic diversity is limited, genetic analysis showed that Umbrian cowpea LRs can be distinguished from commercial varieties, LRs from abroad and other taxa. There is a tight phylogenetic connection among Umbrian LRs. These data confirmed the available historical and sociological data and were included in the PDO specification. AFLP markers can be used to monitor the origin of seed lots that are on the market; this protects the rights of both consumers and farmers. This case study could be a resource for planning activities for the future on-farm conservation of other LRs in different countries.

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Acknowledgments

The Regione dell’Umbria, Ente Parco del Trasimeno and Parco Tecnologico Agroalimentare funded this work. The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) kindly donated some of the extra European accessions examined in this study. Thanks are due to Dr. Paola Taviani for technical assistance in the first phase of the work.

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  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Applicata (DBA), Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy

    Livia Polegri & Valeria Negri

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  1. Livia Polegri
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  2. Valeria Negri
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Correspondence to Valeria Negri.

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Polegri, L., Negri, V. Molecular markers for promoting agro-biodiversity conservation: a case study from Italy. How cowpea landraces were saved from extinction. Genet Resour Crop Evol 57, 867–880 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-009-9526-z

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