PGRFA management of outcrossing plants propagated by seed: from on-farm to ex situ conservation and some Italian maize case studies

In this review, the main issues related to the conservation and valorization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) will be primarily addressed. The conservation of PGRFA concerning outcrossing plants poses a significant challenge. For this reason, this review will cover the key challenges related to all stages, starting from in situ sampling, collection in the germplasm bank, and conservative reproductive methods. Integrated approaches involving the combined use of classical and molecular techniques will be described for the characterization of accessions. Within this framework, some successful Italian case studies focused on maize will be reported as well.