Diversity and conservation of Scottish landraces: Shetland Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) and Small oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.)
Date
29/11/2012Author
Scholten, Maria Anna
Metadata
Abstract
A national inventory of UK plant genetic resources carried out in 2003-4 covered surveys
and documentation of landrace types, occurrences and threats. Among the local
varieties found, those with longest histories of local cultivation occurred on the most
remote Scottish islands: the Outer Hebrides and Tiree had bere (Hordeum vulgare L.),
Small oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) and rye (Secale cereale L.); bere and Small oat on
Orkney and Shetland; and Shetland cabbage (B. olearacea L.) on Shetland. These
landraces are not only geographically but also agriculturally marginal; they are confined
to crofting agriculture and used in low-intensity pastoralism. Two of these, the
oat and the cabbage, were chosen for a characterization study which formed the major
part of this PhD thesis.
The broad aims of the characterization study were first, to describe the existing diversity
within Scotland; to document the ex situ collection of Scottish landraces; to
better understand genetic structure and dynamics of the landraces; but also to explore
the use of a characterization study to raise awareness about landraces.
Morphological and microsatellite results showed distinct identities for both landraces
in relation to the respective outgroups; in the oat distinct regional identities were
found. High diversity was found, most of the genetic variation however, was within
populations, for both inbreeder (oat) and outbreeder (cabbage).
This can be attributed
to frequent and widespread seed exchange and seed swapping within island groups,
while the small but significant regional distinctness is maintained through isolation
between the three islands groups.
The morphological characterization of Small oats was carried out in situ, on a croft in
the Southern Outer Hebrides, aiming at education and raising awareness about
landraces among secondary school students, maintainers and the local public in general.
The extension and education element of the study seemed useful in raising the issue
of landraces locally. Carrying out the trial in the area of origin and amidst maintainers
had the additional advantage of identifying and communicating with stakeholders
groups. Integrated conservation of ex situ collection and maintainers has been
achieved through the Scottish Landrace Protection Scheme. By retaining the link
between landraces and maintainers during the characterization, a springboard may
have been created for feedback of the genetic results into the local seed system and to
discuss further support options for landraces and maintainers.