Nutritional Characterization of Two Rare Landraces of Turnip ( Brassica rapa. var. rapa ) Tops and Their On-Farm Conservation in Foggia Province

Giulia Conversa, Corrado Lazzizera, Anna Bonasia, Paolo La Rotonda and Antonio Elia
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Giulia Conversa: Department of the Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE), University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Corrado Lazzizera: Department of the Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE), University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Anna Bonasia: Department of the Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE), University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Paolo La Rotonda: Department of the Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE), University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy
Antonio Elia: Department of the Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE), University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: The study of nutritional properties in landrace products and the general context of its cultivation site are crucial to designing a sustainable on-farm strategy for landrace conservation. The present study describes the main nutritional aspects of two Brassica rapa subspecies rapa landraces collected in Puglia, Italy along with agroecological and socioeconomical traits where they are cultivated. The two B. rapa landraces (‘ Cima di rapa dalla testa ’ and ‘ Cima di rapa antica ’) are only found in sites at 700–800 m asl and in two landscape units (the Southern Daunian Mountains (SDM) and the Umbra Forest (UF), respectively) of the Foggia province. These rare landraces were selected by farmers to produce turnip greens/tops from ancient root turnip crops. They are named and consumed by local people in the same way as turnip tops of Brassica rapa subspecies sylvestris (‘ Cima di rapa ’), which are widely cultivated in Puglia. Compared to the most common ‘ Cima di rapa ’, the two highlighted landraces have a better nutritional profile linked to an improved content in antioxidant compounds—i.e., vitamin C (458 mg kg −1 FW), total phenols (347 mg ac. gallic equivalent kg −1 FW)—in glucosinolate (741 µmol kg FW −1 , in ‘ Cima di rapa antica ’) and in minerals, such as K. Both landraces are deemed as having a high risk of erosion. Few exemplars are cultivated in marginal lands and urban/peri-urban areas (SDM), or in isolated sites within the UF, which is a special protection zone within Gargano National Park. However, natural, cultural, and recreational tourism are the main economic activities in both landscape units.

Keywords: Cima di rapa; turnip greens; phenols; glucosinolates; vitamin C; landscape type; marginal land; traditional agriculture; cultural diversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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