Morphological evaluation of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.): assessing biodiversity for applications based on tradition, innovation and sustainability

Selected cardoon cultivars established in the “Serra da Estrela” region were analysed to evaluate morphological characteristics related principally to the production of cardoon flowers, which are a compulsory ingredient for particular Mediterranean PDO cheese regions. The biodiversity of twelve cardoon cultivars installed in an experimental field were evaluated over three growing seasons using thirty-four morphological descriptors. Statistically significant differences were found between cultivars for twenty-four morphological characteristics which indicate a wide genetic diversity. The relationship among the cultivars and characteristics was analysed using principal component analysis. A three dimensional template was found to be very significant and explained 71% of the total variation. The first component is dominated positively by plant height, diameter of stalk, inflorescence characteristics and flower production, while the second component is positively dominated by leaf characteristics. Cultivars A26, D32 and D33, present a plant architecture simultaneously well adapted for flower production, ease of harvesting and plant biomass. These characterizations and understandings can be useful for a plant breeding programme to develop cultivars for innovative potential applications besides flowers, and also for application by other cheese producers in Mediterranean regions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efecto de una generación de endocría sobre caracteres vegetativos y productivos en dos estructuras familiares de alcaucil Effect of one generation of selfing over vegetative and productive traits in two family structures of globe artichoke

El alcaucil (Cynara scolymus L.) es una especie alógama cuyos cultivares no son aptos para ser propagados a través de semillas debido a su elevada heterocigosis. Para obtener materiales genéticamente homogéneos es necesario producir líneas endocriadas que pueden ser utilizadas directamente u obtener híbridos a través de ellas. Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron evaluar el efecto de una generación de endocría sobre los caracteres tanto vegetativos como productivos y determinar la existencia de variabilidad genética entre las familias S1 a través de la estimación del Grado de Determinación Génico (G.D.G.) en dos estructuras familiares diferentes. Se utilizaron 2 conjuntos de familias S1 provenientes uno de ellos de cruzamientos dirigidos entre clones y el otro por cruzamientos al azar de los mismos clones. Se evaluaron, en plantas individuales, caracteres productivos y vegetativos. Los resultados obtenidos ponen de manifiesto la importancia del material de origen para la obtención de líneas con buen comportamiento agronómico. La generación S1 originada de plantas half-sibs no sería la más adecuada para la obtención de líneas ya que manifestaron una mayor depresión endogámica para la mayoría de los caracteres que las originadas de plantas full-sibs. Si bien los principales caracteres de interés selectivo manifestaron depresión endogámica, la variabilidad existente entre conjuntos, entre familias S1 y entre plantas dentro de familias permitiría elegir plantas individuales con buenas características agronómicas adecuadas para continuar el proceso de endocría o para ser propagadas clonalmente.<br>Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is an allogamous species where vegetative propagated cultivars are not suitable for seed multiplication due to their high heterozigous condition. To obtain homogeneous materials, the inbreeding process is necessary. Inbred lines could be used as cultivars or in hybrid combinations. The effect of one generation of selfing over vegetative and productive traits were evaluated. The Genetic Determination Coefficient was estimated in two different family structures. Two sets of S1 families were originated: one from crosses between clones and the other through open pollination of the same clones. These assays were implanted in the field, in Zavalla, Argentina. The vegetative and reproductive characters were evaluated in a single plant. The importance of the starting material to obtain lines with adequate agronomic performance was demonstrated: S1 families originated from half-sib plants presented a strong endogamic depression in the majority of the traits in comparison to those obtained from full-sibs. Although all characters manifested endogamic depression after one generation of selfing, a genetic variability still remained among sets, among families and plants within families. As a consequence, it could be possible to select elite plants to continue the inbreeding process or to be vegetatively propagated as clones