Biodiversity of Chestnut Germplasm (Castanea sativa Mill.) grown in North-West Italy

Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is a multipurpose species widely spread in Europe. Italy is the main European producer and Piedmont (North-West Italy) hosts a reach chestnut germplasm, including minor, often endangered, varieties. DNA from 88 chestnut individual was analysed at 10 SSR loci. Chemical and sensory analyses were performed on a selected number of cultivars chosen on the basis of the results of DNA analysis that identified 42 genotypes. The chemical analysis indicated starch and sugars as the most abundant compounds, followed by total dietary fiber; fat and protein were present in lower amount. Sensory analysis allowed the selection of a group of cultivars and clones particularly appreciated for their taste and aroma. The present work confirmed the aptitude of the cultivars for different uses and underlined the importance of traits such as size, ease of skin removal and absence of epysperm intrusions on product acceptance.