Genetic diversity assessment in cultivated cardoon by AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) and microsatellite markers

Abstract

Cultivated cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis DC) belongs, together with globe artichoke (C. (cardunculus L. var. sylvestris L.) and wild cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var., sylvestris (Lamk) Fiori). to the family Asteraceae (Compositae). Cultivated cardoon is of regional importance in Italy. Spain and southern France, where it is used for the preparation of traditional dishes. It has been shown to have potential as a source of oil from its seeds, inulin from its roots and various biopharmaceuticals from its leaves. Levels of genetic diversity and relatedness between eleven Italian and 10 Spanish accessions were assessed by DNA profiling with eight AFLP primer combinations and at five microsatellite loci. The AFLP analysis of genetic similarities showed that the Spanish and Italian accessions represent two distinct gene pools; substantial variation was present within each accession. On the other hand a limited variation was detectable by applying SSR markers.

New genetic maps for globe artichoke and wild cardoon and their alignment with an SSR-based consensus map

“…The high level of inbreeding depression experienced by C. cardunculus (Cravero et al 2002) prevents either backcross, F 2 or recombinant inbreed line populations being used for mapping quantitative traits, so instead the double pseudo-testcross approach was taken, as also successfully used by Lanteri et al (2006), Portis et al (2009) and Sonnante et al (2011). Mapping population individuals obtained from other globe artichoke x wild cardoon crosses have been shown to vary widely with respect to both quantitative and qualitative characters (Sonnate et al 2011;Lanteri et al 2012), confirming that a high level of heterozygosity has been retained in both wild and cultivated germplasm (Portis et al 2005a(Portis et al , 2005bMauro et al 2009Mauro et al , 2012). …”

Genetic diversity of the African hexaploid species Solanum scabrum Mill. and Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae)

“…Selection for stolon diameter and total stolon length in white clover (Trifolium repens L.), a forage legume in the UK, resulted in four phenotypes (Collins et al 1997). Portis et al (2005), using AFLPs, differentiated cultivated cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis DC), that is selected for its fleshy leaves, and globe artichoke (C. cardunculus L. var.…”

Allelopathic effects of Cynara cardunculus L. leaf aqueous extracts on seed germination of some Mediterranean weed species

“…Italy, France and Greece (Portis et al, 2005;Mauromicale et al, 2014). Wild cardoon is a non-domesticated robust perennial plant, characterized by its rosette of large spiny leaves, branched flowering stems and blue-violet flowers.…”