A new EC-funded project has been set up to stimulate the use of rare genebank material in leafy vegetable production.

A network has been established of 14 partners from 10 European countries that brings together genebanks, universities, research institutes and NGOs active in conservation and utilisation of the genetic resources of these crops.

The most important European leafy vegetables are lettuce, spinach and chicory but the minor crops of lamb’s lettuce and rocket (rucola) are also becoming increasingly important, especially with the trend towards more sales of bagged mixed salads.

The potential for the idea is vast, with over 8,400 accessions of lettuce alone held in genebanks and living collections by project partners across Europe.

Spinach and chicory have more than 900 accessions each and there is a total of 270 accessions of rocket and lamb’s lettuce. The task is to characterise more than 1,200 of these accessions and to develop the databases of these crops to improve access and utilisation of the collections. Evaluation of important characteristics of more than 750 accessions will allow breeders to use the most promising germplasm in their programmes to develop improved materials.

Promising sources of resistance to pests and diseases will be used to develop varieties less demanding of fungicides and pesticides. The selection of improved and more attractive varieties should stimulate consumption of these healthy vegetables. Parts of the collections will also be evaluated for nitrates, oxalic acid and glucosinolates, which can have negative effects on health.

The project will run for four years. The involvement of NGOs will be to ensure an increased use of the collections by growers and ultimately consumers. Researchers and growers will evaluate selected accessions for agronomic performance, including in organic farming systems and market appeal. The NGOs will encourage uptake of the material for supermarkets, restaurants and farmers’ markets.

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