Selected Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) Genotypes Suitable for PDO Cheeses in Mediterranean Regions

Abstract

Cardoon flower extract is a traditional and exclusive rennet used for some PDO cheeses in several Mediterranean regions, due to its extremely high concentration in cardosins. In this preliminary study, six individual cardoon genotypes (1M - 6M) were selected because they revealed a wide and consistent diversity of total and specific cardosin concentrations in flowers. During three growing seasons, the stability of 12 biochemical characteristics of flower extracts and 26 plant morphological descriptors was confirmed. Surprisingly, the cardosin profiles of each genotype, based on four main groups A0, A1, A and B, were stable during the annual flower harvesting period and over all three years using ion-exchange chromatography and native-PAGE electrophoresis. This knowledge will allow an improvement in the quality and standardization of cardosin profiles from cardoon flowers used for cheese production and other innovative applications. The results obtained are promising for the development of a plant breeding program based on biochemical and morphological characteristics in order to obtain the most adapted plant architecture for combined purposes related to specific cardosins composition, flower and plant biomass production, and ease of harvesting.

Serra da Estrela cheese: A review

“…Innovations are also associated with the possibility to manipulate the final texture/sensory profile of Serra da Estrela cheese mainly via the thistle ecotype selected (Correia et al, ; Guiné et al, ). The genotype evaluation of selected cardoons has been performed in order to improve the quality and standardization of cardosin profiles from cardoon flowers used for cheese production (Barracosa, Rosa, Barros, & Pires, ), having the different cardoon cultivars been morphologically evaluated (Barracosa, Oliveira, Barros, & Pires, ). Other ways of innovation are the conversion of this traditional cheese into a functional food.…”

Plant Aspartic Proteases for Industrial Applications: Thistle Get Better

“…The variability of thistle populations is not limited to morphological characteristics; it has also been observed in the AP content of the flowers. The evaluation of individual genotypes showed that the observed biodiversity is also reflected in the amount and type of APs present in the flowers of each genotype, with enzymes present in some genotypes and absent in others [16]. This variability was also found to affect the milk-clotting process, as the use of flower extracts from different thistle populations displayed different milk-clotting times, which ultimately affected cheese manufacturing and the rheological and sensorial characteristics of the final product [17,18].…”

“…Triangles indicate glycosylation sites. Based on References[14][15][16] and UniProt KB accession Q9XFX3 and Q9XFX4.…”

Cardoon as a Sustainable Crop for Biomass and Bioactive Compounds Production

“…Due to their high content of aspartic proteases, and high milk‐clotting activity the cardoon extracts create specific characteristics of texture and flavor . In the case of ‘Serra da Estrela’ cheese, C. cardunculus has actually been recognized as a key factor in cheese authenticity, as defined in an integrated project (CARDOP) designed to promote its protected designation of origin …”

“…Achenes can be used not only for biofuel production and bioplastics but also for oil suitable for human consumption due to its high nutritional value . Oil content ranged from 14.5 % to 32.4 % of dry matter depending of the cardoon population and on the extraction method . It can be used in ruminant nutrition as green forage for livestock or preserved as silage, with high organic matter digestibility .…”