Abstract
A little is known about the genetic variability present in globe artichoke, cultivated and wild cardoons. This knowledgeis very important for efficient genetic resources utilization, and to gain a better understanding of genetic structure of thisbotanical varieties. With the aims to determine genetic distances between Cynara cardunculus accessions and to compare two molecular markers systems for their efficiency to differ between botanical varieties, a molecular characterization of sixteen accessions from different geographical origins was performed. Seven SSR and seven SRAP markers were usedfor varieties characterization and to calculate genetic distances between them. Both distance matrices were subjected to cluster analysis. Exclusive SSR alleles were found for globe artichoke and for wild cardoon, but non exclusive alleleswere found for cultivated cardoon. For both markers systems two major groups were identified, one of them includedmostly globe artichoke accessions and the other one grouped mainly cardoons. The differences observed in the sub-clusterconformation with each marker systems may be due to intrinsic characteristics of the markers. Concluding, both kind of molecular markers are valuable tools for studying genetic distances between C. cardunculus accessions although theygive different information. Nevertheless, SSR electrophoretic profiles are simpler to score than SRAP markers becausethey consist of just a few bands. As well, bands are highly informative because of the great number of alleles existing inpopulation and they are codominant markers. In addition, SSR’s use would reduce time and costs.
Highlights
Cynara cardunculus L. is a diploid (2n = 2x = 34), perennial and cross-pollinated species belong to the Asteraceae family and native of the Mediterranean basin
The analysis of the sixteen Cynara cardunculus accessions was performed with seven microsatellites, which gave one or two alleles per accession
We found two simple sequence repeat (SSR) alleles exclusive for globe artichoke
Summary
Cynara cardunculus L. is a diploid (2n = 2x = 34), perennial and cross-pollinated species belong to the Asteraceae family and native of the Mediterranean basin. The crop primary complex includes three botanical varieties: Cynara cardunculus var. Cardunculus (cultivated cardoon) and C. cardunculus var. Reproductive barriers separate the crop primary complex from the other wild Cynara species. Globe artichoke heads or capitulum, which are immature composite inflorescences, are the edible parts of the plant and are used as a fresh, frozen or canned delicacy all over the world. The edible parts of cultivated cardoon are fleshy stems. It is cultivated in Spain, Italy and the south of France, where it is used in traditional dishes (Lanteri and Portis, 2007). In Argentina it is cultivated and consumed by European immigrant’s descendants
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