Results

Out of 23 sites visited with a suitable habitat, wild brassicas were observed in 13 of them. The results obtained from the exploration are described below.

Ionian coast area of Vlora

The presence of B. cretica was observed in five sites in the Vlora Bay area (two sites near the tunnel area in Uje i Ftohtë, and respectively one each in Marina Bay Resort, Bar-Restaurant-Kala, and Radhimë, part of Kala road) and one on the Karaburun peninsula (in the western part, from Alicani to Bristani Bay):

Tunnel area of Uje i Ftohtë, in front of the cliff, northwest side: Two populations of B. cretica were identified there, respectively to the left and right of the tunnel entrance, called Depo ujit and Moli ujit, with 12 and eight reproductive plants, respectively, and very few vegetative individuals (new plants). These sites were respectively rated average and slightly accessible by humans and livestock. Seed was collected from three and two plants, respectively, separately in cotton bags.

Bar-Restaurant Kala area, south side: the site was first surveyed in 2019, and it was surprising in 2020 to note the disappearance of a small population of B. cretica from every accessible site along the base of the cliff, due to mowing of the area by resort gardeners. Not a single plant remained on the cliff, except at the bottom of it, in the inaccessible part, where only ten reproductive plants and very few young plants could be counted. Seeds were collected in 2020 from four plants, separately in cotton bags, with the help of two young climbers.

Radhimë, part of Kala road, west side: It seemed to be a newly established population, with 18 small reproductive plants and very few mature siliquas and many new plants, possibly formed by migrations from a now extinct B. cretica population of Jonufra (4km north of Radhimë), which was an old population documented byPaparisto and Qosja (1976) and later confirmed by Barina et al. (2011). Seed was collected from only one plant.

Resort Marina Bay area, north side: At this site, two populations of B. cretica were located very close to each other in the same area and only 200–300m away from each other (Marina Bay and Resort Gjyla), with overall 12 reproductive plants and very few young plants; these were moderately accessible to humans and endangered of disappearance due to constructions in the tourist resort. Seed was collected from the two matured plants.

Karaburuni peninsula, west side/Alican – Brisani Bay: A site was explored with an area of 4,678m² and a relatively large population of B. cretica, with a density of 1–2 reproductive plants/100m². The first individual plants were identified in the Alican site, on vertical rocks, an area isolated and inaccessible to humans or livestock. Its extent, with few individual plants, was linear to the coast of the entire Gulf of Brisan. No seeds were collected, as the entire population was located on steep cliff tops and therefore inaccessible unless special equipment is used.

Skele neighbourhood of Vlora: In addition to the target species (B. cretica and B. incana), a small population of eight to ten plants initially identified as B. rupestris Raf. was found in a home garden in the coastal neighbourhood Skele of the city of Vlora. From the conversation with the owner of the home garden, it was learned that that population may have originated from a maritime limestone rock area about 7–8km away, called Kuzumbaba, where he had taken soil five years before to use for the home garden; but with the soil, it seems, the seeds also came. However, following a survey of the described area by our team, no plants of B. rupestris could be found. Seed was collected from home garden plants and sent to the Albanian Genebank, Tirana. After closer observation, these plants more probably belong to a domesticated type of leafy kale.

Ionian coast area of Himarë

Three sites were found with a good presence of B. incana, respectively in Potam, Gjipe bay and possibly B. cretica in the Porto Palermo peninsula.

Potam beach: In the southern part of the bay of Spile (Himarë), in a rocky strip with a length of about 2–3km, on maritime limestone rocks, the presence of a relatively large population of B. incana was reconfirmed, linear to the coast, with 28 reproductive plants and many new vegetative individuals, which was previously observed and documented byPaparisto and Qosja (1976) and later confirmed by Barina et al. (2011); every part of it was accessible along the base of the cliff. Seed was collected from five plants.

Himarë Seaport, south side: Besides the two target species (B. cretica and B. incana), in a home garden, near the Himarë Seaport, a small population of four plants of B. juncea (L.) Czern, apparently spontaneously grown was explored. Seed was collected from two plants. Unfortunately, our monitoring in the spring of 2022 revealed that this population had disappeared.

Other localities: other parts of the coast of Himarë were surveyed, north and south of the bay of Spile (Himarë), but new Brassica sites were found only in the Gjipe bay (near Gjipe canyon), about 15km north of Himarë and on the peninsula of Porto Palermo, about 9km south of Himarë, at a site known as The Rock of Porto Palermo. It was surprising to notice the disappearance of the B. cretica population in the Cave site of Porto Palermo, which was described in 2010 by Barina et al. (2011). However, a new and smaller population was found, about 1km northwest, in a segment with straight and steep rocks, in the place known as The Rock of Porto Palermo. It seems that livestock may have influenced the migration of Brassica vegetation from one site to the other. We estimated that in Gjipe bay and The Rock of Porto Palermo, near the Falling Rocks Beach, 18 and 30 reproductive plants of B. incana and B. cretica (to be verified) were growing, and some vegetative individuals, but it was not possible to collect seeds from either site.

Sazan Island area, east and northeast side

The large presence of B. cretica on the island was surprising, mainly concentrated in two sites, the South Cape and the North Cape. The largest area with more reproductive plants and young plants was located in the south, in the Gully of Jehnem site, where the density was 30–40 reproductive plants/100m². Seeds were collected from the two sites, respectively from three and two plants.

Results

Koločep Island

The population of B. incana (locally named B. mollis) was quite numerous on the island (more than 50 individuals). It mainly inhabited the vertical sea cliffs oriented towards SW-SE, reaching up to 60m a.s.l. On the vertical profile of the cliffs, it colonized the halotolerant vegetation of the saline areas up to the bushy vegetation and Aleppo pine near the tops of the cliffs.

Sušac Island, southwest side

The population of B. incana (locally named B. cazzae) was reduced to a single reproductive plant seen by the expedition team near the Sušac lighthouse. Since the plant was on an inaccessible cliff, no seed was collected from this plant. Vegetative individuals were found on the island in the halophilous vegetation of the salt-sprayed rocky cliffs at 90–110m a.s.l., but also in the maquis on the cliff top.

Sušac Island, northwest side

One reproductive plant and several young ones were found near the trail leading to the Sušac lighthouse. Mature siliquas were collected in a paper bag and one entire plant was taken for vegetative propagation.

Obljak, Kosor and Stupa islets

On each of these three islets, the team found more than 20 individuals of B. incana. The mature siliquas of about ten plants from each islet were collected in paper bags. On Obljak and Kosor, the plants were found on the entire surface of the islets. Most of the Brassica population on Stupa was on the northern slope of the islet. The species occured mainly in the herbaceous vegetation of the salt-sprayed low rocky coasts, but also in the maquis in the upper belt, which is only weakly influenced by the sea aerosol.

Two small bays near the village of Račišće, Korčula Island

The team found no individuals of B. incana at these two previously known sites, a result of habitat loss due to anthropogenic impacts. These sites consist of gravel shorelines exposed to wave action, resulting in a thicker or shallower layer of pebbles at the surface. Nitrogen-rich humus often forms beneath the surface.

Svetac Island

The B. incana population on the west coast of Svetac Island consisted of about 20 plants, a good portion of them in reproductive stage. The team collected unripe, green siliquas from three mature plants and two young plants. The siliquas were collected in paper bags.

Vis Island

In the locality Oključina the team found about 15 plants, several of them in reproductive stage. The team collected unripe, green siliquas from three plants and took two young plants.

In Gradac cove the team found around ten B. incana plants and one plant morphologically similar but with smooth, hairless leaves and stems. Several B. incana plants were in the reproductive stage and siliquas were taken from two plants along with two entire young plants. Seeds were taken also from the morphologically similar species, and one young plant was collected just beneath the reproductive one.

In the inland location of St. Duh the team only found three young B. incana plants in vegetative stage. Due to the lack of siliquas and a very small number of individuals, no siliquas or plants were taken.

On the hiking trail from St. Duh church to St. Nikola church in Komiža, the team found five B. incana plants. Several plants were in reproductive stage, so the team collected a small portion of unripe green siliquas from two plants. Because it was only a small population, no young plants were taken.

The locality Crvene stijene hosted the most abundant population in the Vis Island, counting more than 20 B. incana plants, several of them in reproductive stage. The team collected a small portion of green siliquas from five plants and two young plants.

Around five plants were found near St. Mihovil church with only two plants in reproductive stage. The team collected a small portion of green siliquas from the two plants and no young plants were collected.

Island of Ponza, Lazio, Italy

Lorenzo Maggioni, ECPGR Secretariat, Rome, carried a mission to the island of Ponza on behalf of the University of Catania (UNICT), targeting B. montana. Travelling from Rome to Formia and then taking the ferry to Ponza on 13 June 2021, the exploration of the island took place over two days, 14 and 15 June 2021 by foot and using the public bus. Selected dates were suitable to find mature siliquas, based on previous experience. Information available about the sites to visit was based on literature, herbarium specimens and personal knowledge. In their map of vegetation series of Ponza,Stanisci, Feola, and Blasi (2005) indicated the presence of B. montana as a companion species at localities Monte Guardia and Faro.Anzalone et al. (2010) indicate the presence of B. montana in the Pontine Islands. Herbarium specimens in the Anzalone Herbarium in Rome [RO-HA] were collected from localities Monte Guardia in 1966 and Forna in 1974. During a previous survey in March 2004, from the trail midway up to the top of Monte Guardia, northwest side, Maggioni could count more than 200 flowering plants in a gully facing the famous cliff and beach of Chiaia di Luna. This gully was subsequently subject to a rock collapse which probably destroyed a large part of this population and the trail became almost inaccessible. Other individual plants could also be observed on formerly cultivated abandoned terraces, closer to the top of the mountain. In July 2005, at the southwest side of Monte Guardia, Maggioni surveyed the presence of a relatively large population at the base of the cliff, all along the trail reaching the lighthouse at Punta della Guardia.

The objective of the present survey was to collect seeds from sites already known and explore the rest of the island for possible other population sites. Mature siliquas were collected from individual plants and kept in separate paper bags. The size of the population was estimated, distinguishing vegetative and reproductive individuals. GPS coordinates were taken with a cellular phone. After return from the field, siliquas were manually threshed in paper trays and the number of seeds was approximately counted (data not shown).

Results

Monte Guardia, northwest side: it was confirmed that the relatively large population observed in 2004 had almost disappeared and only two reproductive plants and very few vegetative individuals could be found on or along the trail. Seed was collected from the two plants [collecting numbers LM21-01 and LM21-02]. Paper envelopes containing respectively ca. 200 and 100 seeds were sent to UNICT. One envelope with ca. 50 seeds of LM21-01 was also sent to the Botanic Garden of the University La Sapienza in Rome, Italy (care of Giuseppe Fabrini).

Monte Guardia southeast side: it was surprising to note the disappearance of B. montana from any accessible site along the base of the cliff. No plants could be identified on the cliff either, except at the very end of the trail, on the small promontory Punta della Guardia, hosting the lighthouse. Here, less than ten vegetative plants could be observed in inaccessible positions. In recent years, this area has been subject to landslides that have disturbed the base of the cliff. Also, the abundant presence of Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter, widely colonizing the area, might have become a competitor to B. montana.

Other localities: other parts of the island were surveyed (descent to Punta del Fieno; Piana d’Incenso up to Punta Incenso; Fortino del Papa and surroundings; and descent to Scogli della Cantina) but no new sites were found. The locality Forna was not thoroughly surveyed and might deserve a more careful check, considering that one herbarium sample was collected at this locality in 1974 by Anzalone, but with no detailed site indications.

Sicily

Under the leadership of Ferdinando Branca, UNICT, Italy, organized three missions targeting several wild Brassica species growing in Sicily. The UNICT team, represented also by the PhD students Maria Concetta Di Bella, Simone Treccarichi, Donata Arena and Giulio Flavio Rizzo, collected several samples in natural areas during three expeditions, also evaluating the status of the populations. In total, six expeditions were carried out, travelling by car from Catania, between May 2021 and October 2022, targeting the provinces of Palermo and Agrigento (I), Erice and Egadi Islands (II), Butera and Marianopoli, province of Caltanissetta (III), Sortino, province of Siracusa (IV), Francavilla di Sicilia, province of Messina (V) and Butera and mount Muculufa, province of Caltanissetta (VI).

The aim of the expeditions was to increase the availability of seeds for the biomorphological, biochemical and genetic characterization of these populations which were not available in genebanks. Based on previous personal knowledge and local information, the team explored the above-mentioned sites to observe the status of the populations (distribution and estimated number of plants) and seed samples were collected based on the biological status of the plants. Information regarding the collecting sites was obtained through Google Earth and by interviews with local residents.

The collecting methodology encompassed either harvesting of siliquas from individual plants, which were kept separate in the case of B. rupestris of Corleone and B. villosa of Caltabellotta, or bulked from several plants for all other populations for which seeds were collected. Additionally, vegetative cuttings were also collected. Siliqua samples were stored in paper bags to avoid mould formation. Subsequently, siliquas were cleaned at the University of Catania, specifically in the Lab of Biotechnology of Vegetable Crops belonging to Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A). As concerns the cutting method, it consisted of oblique cutting carried out with professional pruning shears. Fresh material was stored in plastic bags to maintain high moisture conditions.

Results

The first expedition (I) was carried out at the end of May 2021 and five different accessions were collected: two accessions of B. rupestris from Corleone and Monte Pellegrino (Palermo province), one B. rupestris subsp. tardarae (Ilardi & al.) Raimondo at Gole della Tardara, near Sambuca di Sicilia (Agrigento province), one accession of B. villosa from Caltabellotta (Agrigento province). The first site is located south of Corleone on the Rocca cliffs, where an abundant population of B. rupestris is widespread. With regard to Mt. Pellegrino, an important population of B. rupestris was found around the cliffs of the Monastery of Santa Rosalia in Palermo, which is the type site for B. rupestris. The population of the subsp. tardarae was not abundant or much diversified in terms of plant age, whereas the population of B. villosa identified around Pizzo Telegrafo and the surrounding areas near Caltabellotta was abundant.

During the second expedition (II) at the end of July 2021 in the province of Trapani, three different accessions were collected. Two accessions of B. macrocarpa were collected on the islands of Favignana, in two different stations. Of these two populations, the more abundant was located on Monte Santa Caterina, spreading from the top of the mountain down to the sea coast. On the other hand, on the island of Marettimo, a few individuals were noted in cliffs that were not well accessible around Punta Bassana. Another population in Marettimo was located on the top of Monte Falcone, but this was not visited. Finally, one accession of B. drepanensis was collected on Mount Erice.

The third expedition (III) was carried out in March 2022 at Mount Muculufa, near Butera and Marianopoli, Caltanissetta province, monitoring two populations of B. villosa subsp. tineoi (Lojac.) Raimondo & Mazzola and collecting shoots for establishing rooted cuttings. Of the two identified populations, the former was abundant whereas the latter was represented by few individuals.

The fourth expedition (IV) was organized at Sortino, Siracusa province, in June 2022, monitoring the populations of B. incana and collecting shoots for establishing rooted cuttings. The fifth expedition (V) was organized at Francavilla di Sicilia, Messina province, in July 2022, collecting B. incana seeds and cuttings for rooting. Finally, the sixth and last expedition (VI) was organized near Ravanusa exploring Monte Muculufa, Caltanissetta province, in October 2022, where a population of B. villosa was found in a chalk quarry, endangered by human activities (caves for salt extraction) and fires.