Innovative genomic and biotechnological tools for the management and enhancement of vegetable genetic resources

Vegetables represent a diverse and significant category of specialty crops, which show high nutritional and economic value compared to the limited occupation of arable land. Changes in lifestyles and dietary habits are stimulating the development of horticultural products with high service content, while climate change is posing new challenges to food production, causing new abiotic and biotic stresses, with negative repercussions on productivity and product quality. A wise and extensive use of vegetable genetic resources conserved worldwide in Gene Banks can help develop varieties adapted to new consumer needs and climate change. This review describes the latest developments in genomic and biotechnological tools that can help manage and improve vegetable genetic resources for sustainable use in breeding efforts. Furthermore, it discusses the use of such tools for collection management, prebreeding and gene discovery, and breeding. Finally, it highlights the technological challenges and regulatory landscape, as well as prospects underlying a broader implementation of ‘omics’ sciences and biotechnology to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of vegetable genetic resources management and use.