Hybridization in Capparis spinosa L.: Molecular and morphological evidence from a Mediterranean island complex

Using genetic structure data and phylogenetic criteria in attributing prioritization scores for conservation of spontaneous Capparis spinosa L. populations from Tunisia

“…The levels of genetic diversity reported here rank within the range of values reported for caper species using DNA marker tools (Gristina et al, 2014;Inocencio, Cowan, Alcaraz, Rivera, & Fay, 2005;Khouildi et al, 2000;Moubasher et al, 2011;Nosrati et al, 2012;Özbek & Kara, 2013;Saifi et al, 2011) and other species with mixed breeding systems (Hamrick & Godt, 1996).…”

“…rupestris (Sm.) Similarly, the use of AFLP, RAPD and ISSR markers (Gristina et al, 2014;Khouildi et al, 2000) allowed the systematic identification between C. spinosa taxa and indicated that genetic variation was more likely conditioned by environmental factors rather than geographic distances, except for island germplasm from Sicily (Gristina et al, 2014). rupestris having a more restricted distribution (Inocencio et al, 2006), while, subsp.…”

Transcriptome analysis and codominant markers development in caper, a drought tolerant orphan crop with medicinal value

“…Finally, we developed the first panel of co-dominant markers (EST-SSR) in caper. So far, genetic analysis of Capparis germplasm has largely relied on AFLP, RAPD, and ISSR markers 34,101,102 . The main reasons for using dominant markers were the lack of a genome sequence and/or transcriptome information for this species.…”

“…For its interest as gourmet food, its medicinal and allelopathic properties and the ability to thrive in arid conditions 7 , capers have great agricultural potential in areas with increasing drought conditions, such as the Mediterranean basin. The process of domestication of caper plants has been limited and cultivated varieties are still very similar to wild accessions 34 , leaving ample margins for enhancement of many traits, such as increased productivity, firmer buds, disease resistance and thornless habit. Breeding programs and an efficient exploitation of this orphan crop are hampered by confused taxonomy of the genus Capparis and the lack of genomic information.…”

An Updated Checklist of the Sicilian Native Edible Plants: Preserving the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Century-Old Agro-Pastoral Landscapes

“…This list includes 39 plant species having good performances under harsh environmental conditions, being able to overcome at least one out of four severe stress factors, i.e., two edaphic (low soil nutrient content and high soil salinity) ad two climatic (lack of water and extreme thermic events). In particular, Capparis species can be considered well adapted to harsh climatic and edaphic conditions (Mercati et al, 2019), with Capparis sicula showing a high ecological plasticity, as it can survive both in poorly aerated, salty and clayey soils as well as in secondary habitats such as roadsides (Gristina et al, 2014), while C. spinosa mainly colonizes coastal rocky cliffs. Wild cabbages (Brassica spp.)…”