Several Allium cepa L. varieties, representing a versatile set of vegetables widely utilized by consumers, are appreciated for their bioactive properties, including antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, and antioxidant capacities. The aim of this study is to compare the morphometric characteristics and biochemical profiles of four cultivars of A. cepa, two of them represented by the perennial Sicilian landrace “Cipudda agghiarola” (Allium × proliferum (Moench) Schrader), widely known as the Egyptian walking onion (WO), and by the landrace “Cipudduzza” belonging to the variety known as aggregatum (ON), which were compared with two commercial cultivars of A. cepa var. cepa (onion), Stoccarda (OS) and Rossa Carmen (OR). The experimental trial was conducted in Catania (Sicily), following organic growing practices. The randomized complete block experimental design was adopted with one experimental factor, the genotype (GE) effect. The harvested plants were characterized for their main morphometric parameters, according to the International Plant Genetic Resources (IGPR) descriptors. The biochemical activity was assessed by analyzing the total phenolic content (TPC) and the total flavonoid content (TFC). The antioxidant capacity was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). The sugar profile (total sugars, sucrose, glucose, fructose, and fructooligosaccharides—FOS) and the volatile compounds by headspace-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS) were also determined. The OR bulb exhibited the highest TPC (16.3 mg GAE/g d.w., p < 0.01) and TFC (8.5 mg QE/g d.w., p < 0.01), with the highest antioxidant capacity measured by the FRAP (27.1 µmol TE/g d.w., p < 0.01) and DPPH assays (46.2 µmol TE/g d.w., p < 0.01). The ON bulb showed the highest ORAC value (209 µmol TE/g d.w., p < 0.01). Generally, the bulbs were richer in sugars (584 mg/g d.w., p < 0.01) than the leaf blade (239 mg/g d.w., p < 0.01), except for OR. Significant interaction between the genotype and plant organ was noted in the volatile compound profiles (p < 0.05) except for total ketones and carboxylic acids, where higher content was observed in the leaf blade compared to the bulb, regardless of the genotype. These findings highlight WO’s potential for use in ready-to-eat products, enhancing its market value.

With global warming and climate change, drought stress is nowadays a threatening problem for growing vegetable crops worldwide. The introduction of more resilient and less water-demanding varieties is a key aspect for sustainable vegetable production, especially in Mediterranean countries where water availability for agricultural uses is progressively decreasing. This review highlights different mechanisms of tomato plant, as one of the most important crops of the Mediterranean countries, which are activated at physiological, biochemical and molecular levels in response to drought. With regard to the root system architecture modification, osmotic adjustments, and hormonal and antioxidant regulations are discussed. For vegetative organs, plant architecture, leaf morphology adjustments and stomatal regulation are described. Major genetic traits related to drought stress, along with responsive genes, are listed. The metabolic pathways, which determine the tolerance to drought stress, are reported and their related molecular markers used for the molecular-assisted selection (MAS) are listed. Novel growing systems and techniques which can improve efficiency for mitigating drought are highlighted; in addition, different breeding methods, both conventional and new gene-editing ones, are mentioned.

Drought stress induces pronounced metabolic and transcriptional reprogramming of glucosinolate (GLS) biosynthesis in Brassica oleracea. An integrative approach combining HPLC-based quantification of individual GLSs, quantitative real-time PCR of core biosynthetic and regulatory genes, correlation-based network analysis, and in silico promoter characterization was applied to evaluate drought responses across genetically diverse accessions. Drought triggered strong, accession-specific shifts in GLS composition, with sinigrin content increasing from 35.9% to 55.1% in BR1 and glucoerucin reaching up to 80.2% in CCP1, while indolic GLSs such as glucobrassicin and neoglucobrassicin accounted for >75% of total GLSs in CV2 and CCP3. Hierarchical clustering separated accessions into four distinct drought response clusters independent of morphotype. Correlation analysis revealed drought-induced rewiring of GLS interdependencies, characterized by strengthened positive associations among aliphatic GLSs (r > 0.75). Gene expression profiling identified conserved MYB-centered regulatory modules (MYB28, MYB29, MYB34, MYB122) alongside strong accession-specific induction of CYP79F1 (up to 6.3-fold), FMOGS-OX5 (up to 4.8-fold), and ST5a (up to 5.1-fold). Promoter analysis revealed enrichment of ABA- and stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements. These findings delineate a genotype-dependent regulatory framework underlying GLS plasticity and identify quantitative metabolic and transcriptional markers relevant for breeding drought-resilient Brassica cultivars.

Vegetable grafting is increasingly adopted to stabilize tomato production under Mediterranean conditions, where water scarcity and soil-borne pressures limit crop performance. A factorial rootstock × scion trial was conducted during an organic cold greenhouse cycle in Sicily (2022–2023). Three experimental rootstocks (two interspecific and one intraspecific, developed within the H2020 BRESOV framework) were compared with the commercial rootstock Optifort, along with self-grafted and non-grafted controls. Three commercial F₁ scions (Barbarela, Cherry, Vittorio) were evaluated for vegetative growth, root traits, flowering dynamics, yield components, and fruit quality. Grafting generally enhanced plant vigor compared with self- and non-grafted plants, and significant rootstock × scion interactions were observed for several traits, indicating that performance depended on partner compatibility. Root biomass and yield varied widely among combinations, while fruit soluble solids ranged from 3.63 to 7.10 °Brix, with consistently higher values in Cherry and Vittorio scions. Multivariate analyses highlighted a predominant scion effect on fruit-related traits, whereas rootstocks mainly influenced vegetative growth and root system development. Tomato performance under Mediterranean organic greenhouse conditions strongly depends on rootstock–scion compatibility, confirming grafting as an effective strategy to improve yield stability and fruit quality in sustainable production systems.

The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices for intensive horticultural production could determine less damage to the ecosystem is a fundamental nee