Brassica

Abstract

Brassica genus and, in general, the Brassicaceae species represent a well-known case of study for strict interaction of several genomes of different related species, which have played an important role in the domestication process permitting the evolution of several crops and also within single species as occurred for Brassica oleracea. In this chapter, we pay special attention to the basic botany of the genus, conservation initiatives, origin and evolution of the allied crops, role in crop improvement through traditional and advanced breeding tools, genomics resource development, and scope for domestication and commercialization. These information could facilitate understanding the possible pathways of crop evolution in the past and also the new tools for Brassica breeding in relation to new market requirements. These have been supported by the great works done to enrich the knowledge on Brassica genomes, which paved the way for identification of target-expressed genes of interest for genetic improvement of Brassica crops. The wild relatives of Brassica crops offer a large genetic resource for desirable alleles controlling economically important quantitative traits and they could be used for food, medicinal purposes (nutraceutical crops), and alternative uses as biocide crops. The remarkable morphological diversity displayed by Brassica species and their relatives offers valuable opportunities to increase our knowledge about plant growth and development and has allowed substantial increase in the knowledge and research on molecular biology and plant genetics. Particular attention is paid on in situ and ex situ conservation activities, which include storage for the future of the wide genetic divergence of this genus and of the related species.