Agro-biodiversity is seriously threatened worldwide and strategies to preserve it are dramatically required. We propose here a methodological approach aimed to identify areas with a high level of agro-biodiversity in which to set or enhance in situ conservation of plant genetic resources. These areas are identified using three criteria: Presence of Landrace diversity, Presence of wild species and Agro-ecosystem ecological diversity. A Restrictive and an Additive prioritization strategy has been applied on the entire Italian territory and has resulted in establishing nationwide 53 and 197 agro-biodiversity hotspots respectively. At present the strategies can easily be applied at a European level and can be helpful to develop conservation strategies everywhere.

These days edible wild plants (EWPs) play a fundamental role in the Mediterranean diet, thanks to their content of mineral elements and bioactive compounds with proven benefits for human health. The present study aims to document ethnobotanical knowledge and uses of EWPs in Central Italy so that this knowledge will not be lost. During various nature fairs and exhibitions in Umbria three hundred subjects were interviewed face-to-face between March and May 2013-2015. The participants provided information on local plant names, where and when the plants were collected, part(s) used, categories used, folk medicinal uses, taste perception and other uses. The results were analyzed using two ethnobotanical indices: the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Relative Importance Index (RII). The 100 EWPs mentioned by the respondents belonged to 23 families, Asteraceae (33%), Brassicaceae (17%) and Lamiaceae (11%) being the most dominant. The part(s) used were leaves (49%), shoots (17%), flowers and inflorescences (10%). Fourteen food use categories were cited, of which boiled 31%, 28% raw, 12% in vegetable soups, 11% fried in fat, without or with beaten eggs. Twenty-seven plant species were also mentioned as having folk medicinal uses.

The physiological stress caused by particular pollution conditions can result in phenological phase shifts that can include a block in vegetative or reproductive development. The main aim of the present study was to determine and analyse the mean development trends of some winter deciduous species in comparison to the climate tendencies, as calculated within two phenological gardens in the Arezzo and Perugia areas of central Italy. Moreover, a phenological comparison between the guide species of the two phenological gardens, one located in an industrial area, and the other in a farming area, was carried out. The phenological evidences showed significant phase displacements for the common guide species present in both the gardens which however may be explained by the meteorological performances above all in the Perugia not polluted area. In these terms, there were no evident phenological effects on the plants from the industrial area pollutants in the Arezzo garden. Moreover, also the temperature reduction tendencies at the end of spring not influenced significantly the phenological behaviours of the plant species not inducing them toward a predictable delay of reproductive and adult leaves phases.

Edible wild plants have provided an important source of food since time immemorial and have continued to do so until the present day. The study aimed to evaluate ethnobotanical uses and nutraceutical properties of Tordylium apulum L. and Urospermum dalechampii (L.) F.W. Schmidt. The ethnobotanical data collected showed that knowledge of these two species was not limited to alimentary use, but also included folk medicinal properties. Data obtained by nutraceutical analysis demonstrated how these species contain many of the so-called minor nutrients, such as carotenoids, tocopherol, and polyphenols. Furthermore in a comparison with some cultivated species, these species showed higher calcium, iron, and phosphorus values. T. apulum also showed significant vitamin A, polyphenol and ORAC values.

The leaves of three edible wild plants, Bunias erucago L. (Corn rocket), Lactuca perennis L. (Mountain lettuce) and Papaver rhoaes L. (Poppy) were analysed for their proximate composition, some nutraceutical components and total antioxidant capacity. The protein levels ranged from 2.7 to 4.1 g/100 g of the edible portion. The range of dietary fibre content was 3.8 to 6.4 g/100 g of the edible portion. The amount of ash, carbohydrate and lipid ranged from 1.7 to 1.9, 3.3 to 4.4 and 0.22to 0.45 g/100 g of the edible portion, respectively. Lipids consisted mainly of polyunsaturated fatty acids with the highest value for the Bunias erucago L. (71.8 % of total fatty acids) and Lactuca perennis L. (70.0 %). Potassium (374.0-521.0 mg/100 g) and calcium (204.8-331.8 mg/100 g) were the most representative macro-elements in the species studied. The values of vitamin E, b-carotene and total vitamin C are included in the range from 0.91 to 2.61 mg/100 g, from 1,957 to 2,631 mg/100 g and from 19.2 to 31.0 mg/100 g, respectively. Our results showed that the total antioxidant capacity performed by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) method, which ranges from 27.2 to 63.7 μmol TE/g, is highly justifiable by the high content of phenolic compounds (159-246 mg GAE/100 g).

This study aimed to show how the importance of edible wild plants regards not only a question of uses linked to folk traditions but also their value in human nutrition. Data on the use of 50 species were collected through informed consent semi-structured interviews with local informants. They were eaten raw in salads (43

This article sets out to analyse how and to what degree land use is linked to the physical characteristics of the territory itself, and the way in which changes in land use are determined by agricultural and socio-demographic dynamics. The study was conducted within the territorial boundaries of five municipalities surrounding Lake Trasimeno and refers to the periods 1977–2000 for land use and 1971–2001 for socio-demography data. The use of environmental, social, economic and agricultural indicators demonstrates how a mix of various indicators are useful for monitoring the changes which took place. It also shows the powerful influence that socio-demographic factors exert upon land use and landscape change.

The analysis of the area of the municipality of Tuoro sul Trasimeno in Umbria, Central Italy (the historical site of the Battle of Trasimeno in 217 BC) was carried out to evaluate changes in land use from 1977 to 2000 at the land-plot level using relevant land use maps. An evaluation of the environmental quality of land use in 2000 was also made. The study involved an analysis of the environmental diversity in terms of extent and variety of land use. The Landscape Conservation Index (ILC), and diversity indicators (Shannon-Wiener Index and Eveness Index) were calculated. The study showed how landscape quality gradually declined due to an increase in agricultural areas to the detriment of natural areas. The calculation of environmental indicators, particularly the Eveness Index showed how the difference between real and potential diversity increased, in favour of real diversity. This is a symptom of increased human pressure.