A Protocol for Producing Virus-Free Artichoke Genetic Resources for Conservation, Breeding, and Production

Roberta Spanò,Antonia Campanale,Addolorata Corrado,Giovanna Bottalico,Tiziana Mascia,Alessandra Di Franco

doi:10.3390/agriculture8030036

Abstract

The potential of the globe artichoke biodiversity in the Mediterranean area is enormous but at risk of genetic erosion because only a limited number of varieties are vegetatively propagated and grown. In Apulia (southern Italy), the Regional Government launched specific actions to rescue and preserve biodiversity of woody and vegetable crops in the framework of the Rural Development Program. Many globe artichoke ecotypes have remained neglected and unnoticed for a long time and have been progressively eroded by several causes, which include a poor phytosanitary status. Sanitation of such ecotypes from infections of vascular fungi and viruses may be a solution for their ex situ conservation and multiplication in nursery plants in conformity to the current EU Directives 93/61/CEE and 93/62/CEE that enforce nursery productions of virus-free and true-to-type certified stocks. Five Apulian ecotypes, Bianco di Taranto, Francesina, Locale di Mola, Verde di Putignano and Violetto di Putignano, were sanitized from artichoke Italian latent virus (AILV), artichoke latent virus (ArLV) and tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV) by meristem-tip culture and in vitro thermotherapy through a limited number of subcultures to reduce the risk of “pastel variants” induction of and loss of earliness. A total of 25 virus-free primary sources were obtained and conserved ex situ in a nursery.

Highlights

Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus) is a species native to the Mediterranean basin that is gaining commercial interest for its dietary and pharmaceutical value
Italian production estimated at 470,000 tons (FAOSTAT 2011) and harbors many artichoke varieties representing an inestimable source of germplasm [1,2,3,4,5]
Artichoke plants infected by tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV) did not show clear symptoms or, at most, they showed interveinal yellowing of the leaves but in all instances, plants were infested with high populations of T. vaporariorum [18,19] that ensured transmission of the virus to other susceptible crops

Summary

Introduction

Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus) is a species native to the Mediterranean basin that is gaining commercial interest for its dietary and pharmaceutical value. Is the leading world producer of globe artichoke and probably hosts the most abundant in situ diversity of the species. Most of the germplasm has remained neglected and unnoticed for a long time and has been progressively eroded by several causes [6], which include a poor phytosanitary status [7]. This condition stalled until the Apulian Regional Government launched two specific actions in the framework of the 2007–2013 Rural Development Program (RDP): action

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion