Celery and Celeriac: A Critical View on Present and Future Breeding.

Area of Science:

• Horticultural Science
• Plant Genetics
• Agricultural Botany

Background:

• Celery and celeriac have a long European breeding history, valued for their petioles and hypocotyls.
• The post-genomic era presents opportunities and challenges for crop improvement, with partially available genome sequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in celery and celeriac breeding, integrating historical context.
• To discuss current genetics, breeding goals, and future prospects for *Apium* improvement.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing recent research on celery and celeriac genetics and breeding.
• Analysis of key breeding traits, including disease resistance, seed production, and desirable morphological characteristics.

Main Results:

• Identified key genetic aspects applicable to modern celery and celeriac cultivar development.
• Highlighted the potential for incorporating nutraceuticals, health-promoting substances, and sustainability traits like abiotic stress resistance and phytoremediation.

Conclusions:

• Future *Apium* breeding will benefit from integrating classical traits with consumer-oriented and sustainability-focused advancements.
• Further research into celery and related species genetics is crucial for germplasm improvement.