Crop Wild Relatives (CWRs) Threatened and Endemic to Italy: Urgent Actions for Protection and Use

An updated overview of the 29 threatened crop wild relatives (CWRs) endemic to Italy is presented, namely: <i>Arrhenatherum elatius</i> subsp. <i>nebrodense</i>, <i>Barbarea rupicola</i>, <i>Brassica baldensis</i>, <i>Brassica glabrescens</i>, <i>Brassica macrocarpa</i>, <i>Brassica rupestris</i> subsp. <i>hispida</i>, <i>Brassica rupestris</i> subsp. <i>rupestris</i>, <i>Brassica tardarae</i>, <i>Brassica</i><i>trichocarpa</i>, <i>Brassica tyrrhena</i>, <i>Brassica villosa</i> subsp. <i>bivonana</i>, <i>Brassica villosa</i> subsp. <i>brevisiliqua</i>, <i>Brassica villosa</i> subsp. <i>drepanensis</i>, <i>Brassica villosa</i> subsp. <i>tineoi</i>, <i>Brassica villosa</i> subsp. <i>villosa</i>, <i>Daucus broteroi</i>, <i>Daucus carota</i> subsp. <i>rupestris</i>, <i>Daucus nebrodensis</i>, <i>Diplotaxis scaposa</i>, <i>Festuca centroapenninica</i>, <i>Lathyrus apenninus</i>, <i>Lathyrus odoratus</i>, <i>Malus crescimannoi</i>, <i>Phalaris arundinacea</i> subsp. <i>rotgesii</i>, <i>Vicia brulloi</i>, <i>Vicia consentina</i>, <i>Vicia giacominiana</i>, <i>Vicia ochroleuca</i> subsp. <i>ochroleuca</i>, <i>Vicia tenuifolia</i> subsp. <i>elegans</i>. Data concerning geographical distribution, ecology (including plant communities and habitats of the Directive 92/43/EEC), genetics (chromosome number, breeding system, and/or the existence of gene pools), threat status at the national and international level (Red Lists), key plant properties, and in situ and ex situ conservation were analyzed and shown. At present, most of the listed endemic CWRs, 23 out of 29, have no gene pool at all, so they are CWRs only according to the taxon group and not according to the gene pool concept. In addition, there is a serious lack of data on the ex situ conservation in gene banks, with 16 species identified as high priority (HP) while 22 taxa have high priority (A) for in situ conservation. With the aim of their protection, conservation, and valorization, specific and urgent actions are recommended.