Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nyman (Parsley)

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nyman) is grown in temperate and subtropical climate worldwide and predominantly used as aromatic plant for cooking and garnishing. Two convarieties are differentiated in parsley, the convar. Crispum for usage of the flat or crisped leaves and convar. Radicosum with eatable swollen taproots. All parts of the plant including leaves, stems and taproots are usable. Products from harvested parsley leaves are marketed dehydrated, frozen or as fresh green bunches. Since some years, pots with green parsley plants are an increasing segment. Parsley roots are used fresh as vegetable. It is also often used for flavouring and as taste enhancer. Parsley is rich in antioxidants, in the flavonoid luteolin, in vitamins C and A and in folic acid. It contains essential oils in roots, leaves and fruits with clear differences in amount and composition. Inside the umbels, a time gradient exists with the oldest partial inflorescences at the external circle. Because of protandry, the five anthers start anthesis around 5 days before the two stigmata are receptive to pollen. Economically important diseases are Septoria blight caused by Septoria petroselini, downy mildew (Plasmopara petroselini), powdery mildew (Erysiphe heraclei) and Alternaria leaf blight caused by Alternaria radicina. For optimization of parsley lines by plant breeding, the group of yield parameters is of biggest interest. Breeding objectives for production of leaves are yield, amount of marketable yield, essential oil content, fast regrowth after cutting, colour of leaves, crimping of the leaf blade tissue, relation of leaves to stalk, height and density of plants. For dried products, the colour intensity of the green leaves is important. Breeding objectives for turnip-rooted parsley are yield of taproots, length and diameter of the taproot and a smooth taproot. Resistances are also of big interest, especially to Septoria blight and downy mildew. Genetic resources of parsley are considerably represented in ex situ collections worldwide. There exist a high number of varieties but also local races or land races are still used and registered.