Population structure of Cynara cardunculus complex and the origin of the conspecific crops artichoke and cardoon.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Globe artichoke and leafy cardoon, two crops within the same species Cynara cardunculus, are traditionally cultivated in the Mediterranean region and play a significant role in the agricultural economy of this area. The two cultigens have different reproductive systems: artichoke is generally vegetatively propagated, while leafy cardoon is seed propagated. The domestication events underlying the origin of both artichoke and cultivated cardoon from their wild relative and the area of occurrence are not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate population structure in wild cardoon, globe artichoke and leafy cardoon material and infer domestication events.

Methods

Thirty-five microsatellite (simple sequence repeat) markers, distributed i

SUBMITTER: Gatto A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3747803 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature