• Plant breeding and development

• Cultivation of crops

• Analysis of plant phytochemicals

Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) is experiencing growing economic importance, not just in view of its high content of health-promoting ingredients (phytochemicals). Despite the worldwide diversity of over 100 kale varieties, only a few high-yielding varieties have been used in commercial cultivation to date. Traditionally, kale is mainly grown for the winter harvest, but there is an increasing focus on developing varieties for spring and summer harvests. This would make fresh kale available all year round. However, climate change is a key issue: Increasing periods of heat and drought can lead to considerable harvest losses and decreased quality. 

Given this context, the project aims to develop new kale varieties that not only offer a balanced and health-promoting ingredient profile, but also reliably provide high yields even under changing climatic conditions. Additionally, the relationships between the plants' genetic basics and environmental influences on their phytochemical profile will be investigated in more detail. In the long term, the aim is to expand the diversity of kale varieties, specifically adapting them to the requirements of organic farming.

The project ‚Future prospects for Kale’ is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Beyeler, M.; Albach, D.C. (2025) In Vitro Micropropagation of Kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica L.). Horticulturae 11: 767.