The use of an evolutionary scheme for cauliflowers in the screening of genetic resources

Molecular characters and morphological genetics of CAL gene in Chinese cabbage

“…Genetic studies suggest that there are one dominant and several recessive factors involved in cauliflower heading [10], [11]. The recent result of molecular studies shows that the cauliflower phenotype (curd) is due to the lack of a functional CAL gene product [6].…”

Cauliflower and Broccoli

“…This crop, in fact, has shown up to now that several traits such as curd colour and shape, and presence and amount of antioxidant compounds, for which several authors have proved that there is great variability which has not been fully exploited (Crisp, 1982;Crisp and Gray, 1984;Massie et al, 1996;Branca and Iapichino, 1997;Branca et al, 2002;Genna et al, 2004). In particular, great interest is devoted to the traditional Italian germplasm and landraces which show great variability for the above-cited characters.…”

“…In particular, great interest is devoted to the traditional Italian germplasm and landraces which show great variability for the above-cited characters. Specific projects have been carried out over recent decades in some European countries for using Italian pigmented cauliflower germplasm to develop new cultivars (Crisp, 1982;Crisp and Tapsell, 1993;Massie, 1998).…”

“…On other hand some authors put forward the hypothesis that cauliflower originated in the central Mediterranean basin directly from broccoli and, only after that, spread to the other areas (Crisp, 1982;Gray, 1982).…”

“…During the XVII century, broccoli was grown in Great Britain and in the northern European countries and in the XVIII century in Spain (Boutelou and Boutelou, 1801). From this time cultivars were established and named in relation to the colour or to the harvest period (Crisp, 1982). Broccoli crops were widespread during the XIX century in North America, introduced by the Italian community emigrating from Calabria and Sicily, and in the XX century throughout the world, above all during the colonial period (Buck, 1956).…”