Elucidating the genetic male sterility in Cynara cardunculusL. through a BSA approach: identification of associated molecular markers

Abstract

Cynara cardunculus L., member of the Asteraceae family, includes three botanical varieties, fully-inter-fertile: scolymus (globe artichoke), altilis (cultivated cardoon) and sylvestris (wild cardoon).The artichoke production is traditionally carried out through vegetative propagation using offshoots or suckers. However, several new seed propagated cultivars have been developed in recent years, which showed high yield and ruled out phytosanitary problems inherent to vegetative propagation. In this context, hybrid seeds production, which exploits the heterosis phenomenon producing high performance plants, is of global interest. Manual emasculation is extremely difficult; therefore, it is essential to have a male-sterility system to achieve an efficient hybrids production. In Cynara genus, genic male sterility was found only in globe artichoke but the genetic bases of this phenomenon is poorly explored. The objective of this work was to elucidate the genetic male sterility in Cynara cardunculus L. combining SRAP technology and a BSA approach and to identify molecular markers associated to ms genes, feasible to be applied for MAS in breeding programs of the species. Segregation of the male sterility in our F2 population fit to a monogenic segregation model (3:1), revealing that only one gene (ms) is responsible, in homozygous recessive stage, to determine male sterile plants. Three SRAP markers linked to the ms gene were found. The nearest marker (SRAP 7-10.1774) was estimated to be 0.5 cM from the ms gene whereas the others (SRAP 4-9.332 and SRAP 4-9.700) were linked at 4.3 cM and 13.9 cM, respectively.