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The ex situ conservation and sustainable exploitation of neglected or underutilized plant species (NUPs) is an urgent and vital endeavor. To this end, we focused on Petromarula pinnata (Campanulaceae), a vulnerable local plant endemic to Crete (Greece) that has been garnering interest for its agro-alimentary, medicinal, and ornamental value. A GIS ecological profile was established herein based on the natural distribution of this species in Crete. This profile contains detailed information on the climatic conditions (minimum, maximum, and mean temperatures; precipitation), as well as information on 19 bioclimatic variables that shape its natural adaptations. This profiling contributed to a better understanding of the species' ecological requirements and facilitated germination trials employing stored seeds from four distinct populations (two from lowlands and two from semi-mountainous areas) at four temperatures (10, 15, 20, and 25 °C) and two light conditions. The results presented here show that both incubation temperature and population of origin, as well as the interaction between these variables, significantly affected seed germination rates. Incubation temperatures of 10 and 15 °C were the most appropriate for the successful germination of this species (>81.25% for both temperatures in three out of four populations), with light conditions having no effect on seed germination (86% in light and 80% in darkness). The establishment of a protocol for the successful germination of P. pinnata seeds opens avenues for further sustainable exploitation of this valuable yet vulnerable NUP as a new Greek native crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neglected and underutilized plants (NUPs) could become alternative food sources in the agro-alimentary sector, enriching human and animal diets, offering the opportunity for sustainable exploitation, resilience to climate change, and production with resistance to pests and diseases. In the Mediterranean countries, these valuable resources are threatened by climate change, overexploitation, and/or monoculture. In this framework, we evaluated 399 local endemic NUPs of Crete (Greece), the Mediterranean coast, Rif of Morocco, and Tunisia, regarding their agro-alimentary potential, and assessed their feasibility and readiness timescale for sustainable exploitation with own previously published methodology. The methodological scheme was developed by experts in co-creative workshops, using point-scoring of seven attributes to evaluate the potential of the targeted NUPs in the agro-alimentary. Our results showed a diversity of promising local endemic NUPs of different families in the studied regions (Lamiaceae members are prominent), and we outlined the cases of 13 taxa with the highest optimum scores of agro-alimentary potential (>70%). Despite the diversity or the promising potential and current ex-situ conservation efforts to bridge gaps, our study indicated that only a few cases of Cretan local endemic NUPs can be sustainably exploited in the short-term. However, it is argued that many more local endemic NUPs can easily follow sustainable exploitation schemes if specific research gaps are bridged. Since NUPs can help to increased diversification of food production systems by adding new nutritional/beneficial species to human and animal diets, basic and applied research, as well as market and stakeholder attraction, is suggested as prerequisite to unlock the full potential of the focal endemic NUPs in the agro-alimentary sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]