The wild gene pool of globe artichoke

Abstract

Globe artichoke is an important vegetable of the Mediterranean basin. Its primary gene pool (GP1) consists of wild types of Cynara cardunculus. Crosses between the wild types and the cultivars (artichoke and cardoon) are fully fertile. In accordance, analyses of molecular markers revealed high genetic identity between the wild types and the cultivars. Hence, all these taxa are grouped together as conspecific varieties within C. cardunculus. Several other wild Cynara species thrive in the Mediterranean basin. Of these, C. syriaca, C. algarbiensis, C. baetica and C. humilis were tested and found to be part of the secondary gene pool (GP2) of artichoke, as they were rather difficult to cross with either wild or cultivated C. cardunculus and the few hybrids obtained were semi-sterile. In accordance, molecular genetic markers suggest that these wild Cynara species indeed diverged from C. cardunculus. Four additional Cynara species thrive in the Mediterranean basin, namely C. cornigera, C. cyrenaica, C. tournefortii and C. makrisii. There is no information on the crossability of these four species with artichoke, but molecular markers suggest that they may also belong to the secondary gene pool of the crop. Considering some attractive, variable characteristics of each of the GP2 species, such as earliness, albinism, dwarfism and diverse flavors, these wild species might be of great interest for artichoke breeders.

Keywords:

• wild progenitor
• Cynara scolymus
• Mediterranean
• cardoon

Acknowledgments

It is a great pleasure for me to thank my mentor and friend Professor Daniel Zohary for guiding me during all these years, throughout my graduate studies and academic career, including the research concerning artichokes.