Friariello Napoletano (Brassica rapa L. subsp. sylvestris var. esculenta) is a traditional leafy vegetable from Southern Italy recognized as a Traditional Agri-food Product (PAT), but its biological and nutritional diversity remains poorly characterized. This study investigated six local landraces over two consecutive growing seasons using an integrated phenotypic, nutritional, metabolic, genetic and epigenetic approach. Morphological traits showed limited discriminatory ability because of high phenotypic plasticity, whereas AFLP and MS-AFLP analyses revealed clear genetic differentiation, landrace-specific molecular markers, and distinct DNA methylation profiles, supporting germplasm authentication and conservation. All landraces exhibited high nutritional value, with appreciable protein and essential amino acid contents, high levels of calcium and iron, and low lipid levels. Amino acid composition differed significantly among landraces, with significant Landrace × Year interactions for several amino acids. Mineral composition also varied among landraces, with significant Landrace × Year interactions for all analysed elements. Landraces harvested at different times of the growing season showed contrasting metabolic profiles, with Centoventino consistently exhibiting higher starch levels, whereas earlier-harvested landraces showed higher levels of several free amino acids and soluble proteins. These contrasting profiles reflect differences in carbon- and nitrogen-related traits associated with the landrace-season context, although ecotypic and environmental effects could not be fully separated. Overall, the integration of molecular, nutritional, and metabolic analyses revealed substantial diversity among the investigated Friariello Napoletano landraces across harvest periods, highlighting valuable genetic resources with distinct nutritional and metabolic profiles and supporting their conservation and characterization.
Integrated nutritional, metabolic, genetic and epigenetic profiling reveals functional diversity among friariello napoletano (Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris var. esculenta) landraces
Alberico, Laura;Fusco, Giovanna Marta;Landi, Nicola;Ragucci, Sara;Nicastro, Rosalinda;Strumia, Sandro;Papa, Stefania;Di Maro, Antimo;Carillo, Petronia;Woodrow, Pasqualina
2026
Abstract
Friariello Napoletano (Brassica rapa L. subsp. sylvestris var. esculenta) is a traditional leafy vegetable from Southern Italy recognized as a Traditional Agri-food Product (PAT), but its biological and nutritional diversity remains poorly characterized. This study investigated six local landraces over two consecutive growing seasons using an integrated phenotypic, nutritional, metabolic, genetic and epigenetic approach. Morphological traits showed limited discriminatory ability because of high phenotypic plasticity, whereas AFLP and MS-AFLP analyses revealed clear genetic differentiation, landrace-specific molecular markers, and distinct DNA methylation profiles, supporting germplasm authentication and conservation. All landraces exhibited high nutritional value, with appreciable protein and essential amino acid contents, high levels of calcium and iron, and low lipid levels. Amino acid composition differed significantly among landraces, with significant Landrace × Year interactions for several amino acids. Mineral composition also varied among landraces, with significant Landrace × Year interactions for all analysed elements. Landraces harvested at different times of the growing season showed contrasting metabolic profiles, with Centoventino consistently exhibiting higher starch levels, whereas earlier-harvested landraces showed higher levels of several free amino acids and soluble proteins. These contrasting profiles reflect differences in carbon- and nitrogen-related traits associated with the landrace-season context, although ecotypic and environmental effects could not be fully separated. Overall, the integration of molecular, nutritional, and metabolic analyses revealed substantial diversity among the investigated Friariello Napoletano landraces across harvest periods, highlighting valuable genetic resources with distinct nutritional and metabolic profiles and supporting their conservation and characterization.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
