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Characterization and Conservation of Vegetable Genetic Resources

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Genetic Resources".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 12777

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Derly Henriques Silva

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Guest Editor

Agronomy Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), PH Rolfs Avenue, Viçosa 36570-000, MG, Brazil
Interests: vegetable genetic resource; genetic resources and breeding of tomato, pumpkin, and capsicum chinense; production and cultural treatments of vegetables; protected environment genetic resources sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The characterization of vegetable genetic resources (CVR) is a fascinating task, constituting strategic access to the elucidation of crucial traits for the conservation of genetic resources and to the discovery of useful characteristics for agro-ecosystems or natural ecosystems. Currently, CRV assumes even greater importance given the continuous challenges faced in plant production, such as environmental changes and the demands for increasing productivity and sustainability in production. In this sense, there is a consensus that the usefulness of plant genetic resources is linked to the quantity and quality of information associated with these resources, corroborating the importance of efforts aimed at their adequate evaluation. In line with this, instruments such as The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture establish a series of guidelines aimed at greater efficiency in the conservation and use of plant germplasm, such as improvements in the evaluation and identification of accessions with characteristics of economic importance. However, those involved in the characterization and conservation of plant germplasm may witness challenges intrinsic to these activities. As an example of these challenges, these activities often receive secondary attention in the allocation of financial and human resources. In view of this, this Special Issue warmly invites the submission of studies involving the characterization of plant genetic resources.

Prof. Dr. Derly Silva
Guest Editor

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Keywords

accessions
agrobiodiversity
germplasm collections
plant germplasm
germplasm management

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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33 pages, 10093 KB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Agromorphological Profiles of the Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) Collection from the INIA Germplasm Bank in the Amazonas Region, Peru

by José Jesús Tejada-Alvarado, Nuri Carito Vilca-Valqui, Luis Alberto Montenegro-Acuña, Jhimy Andy Parco-Quinchori and Elizabeth Fernandez

Plants 2025, 14(22), 3536; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223536 - 19 Nov 2025

Viewed by 505

Abstract

Cacao is a strategic crop in Peru due to its significant socioeconomic impact, driving extensive efforts to collect, characterize, and conserve its genetic diversity. This study aimed to establish phenotypic criteria to differentiate and structure the Cacao Amazonas Perú (CAP) germplasm, thereby providing a foundation for selection and breeding programs. A total of 113 accessions from the INIA Germplasm Bank were evaluated over two consecutive growing seasons using 33 quantitative and 18 qualitative agromorphological descriptors. Data were analyzed through univariate and multivariate approaches. The results revealed substantial phenotypic variability, with coefficients of variation reaching up to 37.5% for fruit-related quantitative traits, all exhibiting high heritability values (>60%). Principal component analysis indicated that the first two components explained 29.3% of the total variance, primarily influenced by fruit and seed descriptors. Hierarchical clustering analysis identified eight phenotypic groups; one cluster exhibited high seed mass and a favorable pod index (17.63), while another showed the highest seed index (1.55 g) and the greatest intragroup distance (7.54). This comprehensive characterization highlights accessions with superior agronomic and bioactive potential, providing a robust framework for parental selection, core collection development, and targeted breeding strategies to enhance cacao competitiveness and resilience under changing climatic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization and Conservation of Vegetable Genetic Resources)

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19 pages, 2175 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pomegranate Germplasm Collections from Elche (Spain) and Bari (Italy): Genetic Resources Characterization for Emerging Mediterranean Challenges

by Ana Lozano-Soria, Agata Gadaleta, Ilaria Marcotuli, Giuseppe Ferrara, Andrea Mazzeo, Julián Bartual and Elena Zuriaga

Plants 2025, 14(21), 3239; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213239 - 22 Oct 2025

Viewed by 500

Abstract

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a strategic crop for Mediterranean agriculture due to its adaptability to arid environments—an increasingly important trait in the context of climate change—and its rising market demand driven by nutritional and medicinal properties. To support breeding and conservation efforts, this study evaluated the genetic diversity and phenotypic traits of two Mediterranean germplasm collections from Elche (Spain) and Bari (Italy). A total of 184 accessions were analyzed using SSR markers and evaluated for key pomological and phenological traits, including fruit weight, skin and aril color, seed hardness, aril weight, titratable acidity, soluble solids content, and harvest time. Genetic analyses revealed high levels of diversity within and between collections, with clear population structure influenced by geographic origin. Phenotypic evaluation revealed considerable variation in agronomic and quality traits, and several accessions with notably desirable characteristics were identified. For example, Ovadan and Molla Nepes displayed very high soluble solids content (>19 °Bx), Sanrà Nero, Sanrà Rosso, and Tajikistan Dark Red exhibited titratable acidity exceeding 40 g/L citric acid, and De Marco reached aril weights of up to 0.60 g. The integration of molecular and morphological data provided valuable insights into the distinctiveness and breeding potential of the studied genotypes. Misclassifications were identified, as well as phenotypic differences attributable to environmental influences. These findings highlight the importance of characterizing regional germplasm to preserve local adaptations and support development of new cultivars adapted to changing environmental conditions. This work reinforces the role of European pomegranate collections as reservoirs of genetic resources for sustainable cultivation and future breeding programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization and Conservation of Vegetable Genetic Resources)

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15 pages, 1167 KB

Open AccessArticle

Construction of Garlic Core Collections Based on the Agronomic Traits of 366 Germplasm Accessions

by Yunpeng Zhong, Chengyu Li, Qi Qiao, Xiaoxi Lu, Deyi Xie, Jun Mao, Fengyin Lu, Zhongjie Tang and Zhiyong Wu

Plants 2025, 14(19), 3009; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14193009 - 28 Sep 2025

Viewed by 511

Abstract

In this study, 21 agronomic traits (14 quantitative and 7 qualitative) of 366 garlic germplasm accessions were analyzed using correlation, principal component, and cluster analyses. Genetic diversity was analyzed by the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). Random (R), priority (P), and deviation (D) sampling methods were adopted to construct core collections, and their representativeness was evaluated. The resources exhibited rich genetic diversity and were divided into five categories. Three core collections, R1, P1, and D1, were constructed, and R1 and P1 conformed to core construction principles. A total of 13 R1 traits had higher variances and coefficients of variation, 15 P1 traits showed significant differences in variance and 20 had higher coefficients of variation, and 16 D1 traits exhibited significant differences in mean values compared to those in the original population. Therefore, the three core collections had good heterogeneity, and the P1 group achieved the greatest genetic variation. Based on the three sets, 90 garlic core collections were constructed, accounting for 24.59% of total resources. These core collections provide a scientific basis for the establishment and conservation of a garlic germplasm resource nursery and the breeding of new varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization and Conservation of Vegetable Genetic Resources)

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26 pages, 2289 KB

Open AccessArticle

Identification and Quantification of Anthocyanins in Various Organs of Potato Varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.) as Potential Visual Selection Markers During Breeding

by Irina V. Kim, Muhammad A. Nawaz, Dmitry I. Volkov, Aleksey G. Klykov, Mayya P. Razgonova and Kirill S. Golokhvast

Plants 2025, 14(13), 2042; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14132042 - 3 Jul 2025

Viewed by 1109

Abstract

Phenolic compounds, which are a large group of plant pigments, are recognized as important antioxidants. The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), particularly the pigmented varieties, could be a source of natural anthocyanins for producing dietary foods. In this study, we analyzed forty potato specimens from our germplasm collection and breeding nurseries using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and second-order mass spectrometry to identify anthocyanins. We found seven main anthocyanins in potato tubers: delphinidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-rhamnosyl-5-glucoside, petunidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-rhamnosyl-5-glucoside, and pelargonidin-3-glucoside. Two anthocyanins were found in potato inflorescences: peonidin-3-coumaroyl glucoside and cyanidin-3-coumaroyl glucoside. On average, varieties from the group with red-purple inflorescences contained 187.6 mg/kg of anthocyanins. Genotypes with white corollas had an anthocyanin content below 0.5 mg/kg or between 1.3 and 3.6 mg/kg. Two potato varieties, Vasilek (605.2 mg/kg) and Fioletovyi (501.1 mg/kg), with blue-purple corollas, had the highest total anthocyanin content. Studying the anthocyanin profile of leaves allowed us to identify eleven anthocyanins. The highest anthocyanin content (331.3 mg/kg) was found in varieties with purple or blue-purple tubers, while the lowest content (an average of 15.1 mg/kg) was found in varieties with yellow or cream tubers. Genotypes with purple and blue-purple tuber skin had an average anthocyanin content of 190.7 mg/kg. The group with yellow and cream tubers had an insignificant anthocyanin content (1.2 mg/kg). Varieties from the group with pink tubers had an average anthocyanin content of 43.2 mg/kg. Thus, this study identified diagnostic traits that could be used to assess the morphological characteristics of potato genotypes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization and Conservation of Vegetable Genetic Resources)

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21 pages, 2207 KB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of a Diverse Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) Germplasm Collection Based on Fruit Quality Traits

by Mehtap Yildiz, Sibel Turan Sirke, Metin Koçak, İbrahim Mancak, Aslıhan Agar Özkaya, Kazım Abak, Okan Özkaya and Pablo Federico Cavagnaro

Plants 2025, 14(4), 565; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14040565 - 12 Feb 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1847

Abstract

Okra is an important dietary component of many Asian countries, providing high levels of dietary fiber, phytonutrients (e.g., antioxidant vitamins and pigments), and essential minerals. Evaluation of okra germplasm collections can improve the curation of genebanks and help identify superior materials for breeding. In this study, 66 okra accessions from diverse geographical origins were characterized based on fruit quality traits, including fruit fresh (FFW) and dry weights (FDW), dry matter (DM), diameter, length, and diameter of the fruit peduncle; concentration of vitamin C, chlorophyll a and b, and total chlorophyll; and color-chroma values. Significant (p < 0.05) and substantial variation was found among the accessions for all traits. Mean FFW and FDW varied nearly three-fold, with ranges of 3.76–9.99 g and 0.43–1.34 g, respectively, with a range in DM content of 10.5–19.4%. Vitamin C and total chlorophyll content varied 6.4- and 8.3-fold, with ranges of 12.8–82.8 and 1.07–8.91 mg/100 g fw, respectively, with substantial variation also observed in chlorophyll composition. Significant positive correlations were found between vitamin C and total and subtypes of chlorophyll levels (r = 0.29–0.32), whereas the strongest correlations were between FFW and FDW (r = 0.88) and between total chlorophyll and chlorophyll subtypes a and b (r = 0.90–0.95). Additionally, a dendrogram constructed based on these phenotypic data grouped the accessions in general agreement with their geographical origins and fruit traits. Overall, our results revealed broad phenotypic diversity in the evaluated germplasm, which is exploitable in okra breeding programs aimed at increasing fruit quality and nutraceutical value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization and Conservation of Vegetable Genetic Resources)

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20 pages, 4626 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genetic Diversity of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landraces Based on Morphological Traits and Molecular Markers

by Evaldo de Paula, Rafael Nunes de Almeida, Talles de Oliveira Santos, José Dias de Souza Neto, Elaine Manelli Riva-Souza, Sheila Cristina Prucoli Posse, Maurício Novaes Souza, Aparecida de Fátima Madella de Oliveira, Alexandre Cristiano Santos Júnior, Jardel Oliveira Santos, Samy Pimenta, Cintia dos Santos Bento and Monique Moreira Moulin

Plants 2024, 13(18), 2584; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13182584 - 15 Sep 2024

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4213

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity among traditional common bean accessions through morphological descriptors and molecular markers. Sixty-seven common bean accessions from the Germplasm bank of the Instituto Federal of Espírito Santo—Campus de Alegre were evaluated. For this, 25 specific morphological descriptors were used, namely 12 quantitative and 13 qualitative ones. A diversity analysis based on morphological descriptors was carried out using the Gower algorithm. For molecular characterization, 23 ISSR primers were used to estimate dissimilarity using the Jaccard Index. Based on the dendrograms obtained by the UPGMA method, for morphological and molecular characterization, high genetic variability was observed between the common bean genotypes studied, evidenced by cophenetic correlation values in the order of 0.99, indicating an accurate representation of the dissimilarity matrix by the UPGMA clustering. In the morphological characterization, high phenotypic diversity was observed between the accessions, with grains of different shapes, colors, and sizes, and the accessions were grouped into nine distinct groups. Molecular characterization was efficient in separating the genotypes in the Andean and Mesoamerican groups, with the 23 ISSR primers studied generating an average of 6.35 polymorphic bands. The work identified divergent accessions that can serve different market niches, which can be indicated as parents to form breeding programs in order to obtain progenies with high genetic variability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization and Conservation of Vegetable Genetic Resources)

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12 pages, 679 KB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Lithuanian Tomato Varieties and Hybrids Using Phenotypic Traits and Molecular Markers

by Audrius Radzevičius, Jūratė Bronė Šikšnianienė, Rasa Karklelienė, Danguolė Juškevičienė, Raminta Antanynienė, Edvinas Misiukevičius, Aurelijus Starkus, Vidmantas Stanys and Birutė Frercks

Plants 2024, 13(15), 2143; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152143 - 2 Aug 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1885

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic traits and genetic diversity of the 13 tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) varieties and 6 hybrids developed at the Institute of Horticulture Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LRCAF IH). For the molecular characterisation, seven previously published microsatellite markers (SSR) were used. A24 and 26 alleles were detected in tomato varieties and hybrids, respectively. Based on the polymorphism information content (PIC) value, the most informative SSR primers for varieties were TMS52, TGS0007, LEMDDNa and Tom236-237, and the most informative SSR primers for hybrids were SSR248 and TMS52. In UPGMA cluster analysis, tomato varieties are grouped in some cases due to genetic relationships, as the same cluster cultivars ‘Viltis’ (the parent of cv. ‘Laukiai’) and ‘Aušriai’ (the progeny of cv. ‘Jurgiai’) are present. The grouping of all hybrids in the dendrogram is related to the parental forms, and it shows the usefulness of molecular markers for tomato breeding, as they can be used to trace the origin of hybrids and, eventually, varieties accurately. The knowledge about the genetic background of Lithuanian tomato cultivars will help plan targeted crosses in tomato breeding programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization and Conservation of Vegetable Genetic Resources)

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Review

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12 pages, 1470 KB

Open AccessReview

Characterization, Conservation, and Breeding of Winter Squash (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne): Case Study of the Collection Maintained at the Federal University of Viçosa Vegetable Germplasm Bank

by Derly José Henriques da Silva, Ronaldo Silva Gomes, Ronaldo Machado Júnior, Cleverson Freitas de Almeida, Rebeca Lourenço de Oliveira, Dalcirlei Pinheiro Albuquerque and Santina Rodrigues Santana

Plants 2025, 14(15), 2317; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152317 - 27 Jul 2025

Viewed by 1317

Abstract

Winter squash (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne.) is a vegetable of high socioeconomic importance owing to the nutritional quality of its fruits, seeds, and seed oil. This study aims to review the main aspects related to the characterization, conservation, and breeding of C. moschata, emphasizing the studies with C. moschata accessions maintained by the Vegetable Germplasm Bank of the Federal University of Viçosa (BGH-UFV). Studies on C. moschata germplasm have reported high variability, particularly in Brazil. Currently, Brazil maintains six Cucurbita germplasm collections, kept in research and teaching institutions. The BGH-UFV collection, one of the largest in the country, contains approximately 350 accessions of C. moschata, mostly landraces collected from all over Brazil. Studies characterizing this germplasm have identified promising genotypes as sources of alleles for increasing the carotenoid content in the fruit pulp and oleic acid content in the seed oil. As part of a breeding program to increase seed oil productivity and improve the oil profile, studies with the BGH-UFV germplasm have identified C. moschata genotypes with seed oil productivity of up to 0.27 t ha⁻¹ and accessions producing oil with high oleic acid content (21 to 28%). The genetic breeding program of C. moschata conducted at the UFV has prioritized the development of compact growth habit genotypes to reduce plant spacing and increase seed and oil productivity. The works involving the collection of C. moschata maintained by the BGH-UFV corroborates the importance of this germplasm as a source of alleles for improving seed oil productivity and the oil profile. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization and Conservation of Vegetable Genetic Resources)

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