Advances in Breeding in Vegetable Brassica rapa Crops

Abstract

Brassica rapa includes oil and vegetable crops having a variety of forms, such as oilseeds, leafy vegetables and turnips. Leafy types, which are called turnip greens and turnip tops, are popular crops in NW Spain, and they represent an important part of the diet. However, their cultivation is limited in southern areas or in the Mediterranean basin, probably due to a lack of adaptation. Still, they could occupy a prominent place in the Mediterranean diet, which is based on a high consumption of fruits and vegetables. In this review, we summarize the studies on the agronomical and nutritional value of these crops when grown under Mediterranean climate conditions. Data reported here might be useful for a deeper understanding of these crops for both nutritional quality and bioaccessibility, and for selecting varieties adapted to the two abovementioned Mediterranean conditions, as well as for organic farming systems, thus contributing to the diversification of traditional Brassica vegetable production systems.

Role of Glucosinolates in the Nutraceutical Potential of Selected Cultivars of Brassica rapa

“…In the evaluation and selection process, the production capacity of turnip greens and turnip tops as well as the glucosinolate content of the harvested products were considered as the quality criteria of the final product. The most promising cultivars for breeding objectives would be those with the highest content of glucosinolates, which is related to beneficial effects [19,23]. In line with these criteria, three cultivars of Brassica rapa L. subsp.…”

“…GLS/ITC intake has a health protective effect against different diseases or inflammatory processes [18]. Nevertheless, the GLS content is variable depending on many genetic and environmental factors (growing conditions, storage conditions and culinary treatments), making it difficult to determine its healthy effects in humans [19][20][21][22].…”

“…In northwest Spain and Portugal, there is a long tradition of cultivating B. rapa subsp. rapa to obtain turnips, turnip greens and turnip tops (called "grelos"), that are part of many dishes in the traditional cuisine of this area (for example "Lacón con grelos" or "Portuguese green soup") [19].…”

Chemical Profile and Biological Activities of Brassica rapa and Brassica napus Ex Situ Collection from Portugal

“…Generations of farmers have cultivated and selected various species, resulting in the development of regional varieties known as landraces [28]. These landraces are highly adapted to their growing locations and serve essential functions in the local diet [29]. The local names of the landraces vary by region in Portugal.…”

Growth, Anatomical, and Biochemical Responses of the Space Farming Candidate Brassica rapa L. Microgreens to Low-LET Ionizing Radiation

“…Currently, several families are candidates to be exploited in microgreen production. Among these, many species of the Brassicaceae family present high amounts of micronutrients such as polyphenols, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, tocopherols [15][16][17][18], selenium, sulfur, calcium, and glycosylates [19][20][21], which are very effective in neutralizing radiation-induced oxidative damage and the risk of the occurrence of several types of cancer [7,20,[22][23][24]. These secondary metabolites are tightly linked to plant protection and defense pathways, and may be influenced by environmental conditions and agricultural practices [25][26][27].…”