Genetic characterisation and conservation of threatened Irish agricultural biodiversity –
Crambe maritime (sea kale)
Crambe maritima L., commonly known as sea kale, is a halophytic plant of the Brassicaceae family of
potential novel crop value. It is closely related to the ~20 other members of the Crambe genus, (the
second largest section of the Brassicaceae after Brassica (Gomez-Campo, 1980; Warwick and Black,
1997). Sea kale is a long-lived, perennial herb with a deciduous growth habit and a deep root system
which grows exclusively on shingled shores throughout Europe. Small numbers of C. maritima in
disparate populations are found as far south as the north coast of Spain, although most populations
are found in France (e.g. north of Brittany) and extend northwards to the Baltic sea. C.maritima also
grows around the coasts of the British Isles and Ireland, e.g. along the southern/western coasts of
Great Britain (Bond et al., 2005). Populations of C. maritima are considered to have declined over
the course of the twentieth century (Scott and Randall 1976, Stewart et al. 1994). Previous studies of
C. maritima populations in the UK have revealed high levels of diversity between populations, but
lower levels of genetic diversity within them due to widespread outcrossing (Bond et al, 2005). This
could suggest that the Irish populations of C. maritima may contain genetic characteristics of
agricultural and/or conservation interest that are distinct from those found in other European
populations. The wild Irish populations of C. maritima are therefore a particular priority for analysis
of genetic diversity. This DAFM Genetic Resources project collected and conserved seed and
vegetative material from the threatened populations of C. maritima around the Irish coastline,
developed novel molecular markers (SSR microsatellites) for genetic diversity assessment in Crambe
maritima, and assessed the genetic uniqueness and relatedness of the remaining Irish populations of
Crambe maritima. For further details on this DAFM funded project contact: Prof Charles Spillane,
Botany and Plant Science, NUI Galway at: charles.spillane@nuigalway.ie
[www.plantagbiosciences.org]
Project Coordinator: Prof. Charles Spillane