Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources in Italy

An attempt is made to summarize decades of activities by many national and international actors and institutions that created ideal research conditions for the conservation of plant genetic resources of crops and their wild relatives (CWR). They are important for agriculture, food, and the environment, however being threatened by genetic erosion and/or by extinction. Information on ex situ and in situ conservation about cereals, vegetable crops, fruit trees, ornamental flowers, and medicinal aromatic and officinal plants along with their CWR is helpful to improve conservation strategies for sustainable use of plant diversity. In doing so, the work shows what has and what has not been done by reviewing the different forms of conservation, according to the needs of geneticists, botanists, breeders, other experts, and beneficiaries. Since Italy is part of Europe, issues were treated stressing the links of Italy to the rest of Europe. National organizations, like MiPAAF, CREA, CNR, Universities, Botanical Society, as well as national networks, like PlantA-Res and Italian seed bank network (RIBES), especially botanical gardens, besides international organizations, like FAO, Bioversity International, ECP/GR, and various international networks, like EURISCO, AEGIS, and others, have plaid and continue to play an important role in conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources. The problematic of genetic modified organisms (GMOs) or more in general of the gene drive organisms (GDOs) was faced, since they do affect the conservation of biodiversity and, worst, do not solve the problem of world hunger. General critical points are presented and discussed. The most important amongst them is the lack of coordination.