Selection in Artemisia umbelliformis Lam. Piedmont ecotypes to improve cultivation in alpine environment

Abstract

Artemisia umbelliformis Lam. (syn. A. mutellina Vill., A. laxa (L.) Fritsch) is an herbaceous alpine plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, and most commonly growing in the wild at altitudes between 2,000 and 3,700 m a.s.l. Its flowers are used for the production of an alcoholbased infusion called genepì in Italian and génépi in French. Uncontrolled picking of natural populations has endangered the species' survival, despite bans in Switzerland and Italy and strict regulation in France. Limited quantities are produced under cultivation, but these are insufficient to meet market needs, so the selection of productive genotypes is a present priority.We report here an AFLP-based assessment of the genetic diversity represented in five ecotypes (Valle Gesso, Marmora, Gran Paradiso, Val Chisone and Elva), one selection (RAC12) and a wild population. The four ecotypes Valle Gesso, Gran Paradiso, Val Chisone and Elva together captured a broad coverage of the genetic variability present. A sample of ten plants was selected from each of these ecotypes for a more detailed analysis of genetic, phenological and morphological variation. The assays confirmed the distinctness of the four ecotypes, and were used to identify set of mother plants of clonal populations suitable for cultivation.

Artemisia umbelliformis Lam. and Génépi Liqueur: Volatile Profile as Diagnostic Marker for Geographic Origin and To Predict Liqueur Safety

“…Génépi cultivation, which is restricted by the plants’ pedoclimatic needs, facilitates harvesting operations and protects wild génépi species . The five génépi species have a common environmental distribution, growing at around 1500–2000 m above sea level (asl) . The altitude requirement is due to specific soils in which these species face competition from neither weeds nor fungal pathogens, which become predominant at lower altitudes. , …”

“…A. umbelliformis, commonly known as “white génépi”, is the génépi species that has been cultivated more successfully, above 1600 m asl; ,, this species has therefore been selected for wider scale cultivation. Independent of its domestication and production, the supply chain of A.…”

“…Thujones are natural monoterpenoids widely present in Artemisia species. α- and β-thujones are the most abundant volatiles in génépi species − and are characterized by recognized activity on the human central nervous system. ,, For this reason, the maximum content of thujone in Artemisia -based beverages is limited to 35 mg/L in the EU (Reg. EC 110/2008). ,, A.…”

“…The variability of the plant’s chemical composition (i.e., the variability of thujone content) is a crucial point for génépi liqueur producers. To overcome this problem, some agronomical selection has been done to create thujone-free chemotypes. , However, chemical comparisons between thujone-free and thujone-containing chemotypes have found a marked difference in the content of both aromatic and bitter compounds, responsible for the typical sensory characteristics of the liqueur …”

“…6 The five geńeṕi species have a common environmental distribution, growing at around 1500−2000 m above sea level (asl). 11 The altitude requirement is due to specific soils in which these species face competition from neither weeds nor fungal pathogens, which become predominant at lower altitudes. 6,12 A. umbelliformis, commonly known as "white geńeṕi", is the geńeṕi species that has been cultivated more successfully, above 1600 m asl; 6,11,12 this species has therefore been selected for wider scale cultivation.…”