Biotechnological tools applied to Cynara cardunculus L. breeding

ZAYAS, A; MARTIN, EA; CRAVERO, VP

BIOCELL

INST HISTOL EMBRIOL-CONICET

Año: 2017

0327-9545

Cynara cardunculus L. (Asteracea), includes three botanical varieties: var. scolymus(globe artichoke), var. altilis (cultivated cardoon) and var. sylvestris (wild cardoon). Inaddition to its economic importance as food it is a substantive source of biopharmaceuticalcompounds and biomass for bioenergy production, which makes this species an object ofinterest for genetic improvement. A germplasm collection including accessions of differentorigins was developed within the framework of the Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias (UNR)breeding program. A genetic linkage map for the species was developed using SRAP,AFLP, SSR, and SNPs markers. This map was useful to identify and locate genes andQTLs controlling traits linked to important agro-economics traits such as headcolor, bractsand leaf spines, yield and biomass production. Currently, this map is being satured by theinclusion of new molecular markers generated by GBS. Moreover, the SRAP markersassociated with QTLs of agronomic interest are being sequenced and materials with highpolyphenols content are being identified by HPLC. Also, since a male sterility system isimportant for hybrid seed development, it is proposed to detect molecular markersassociated with this character, either by identifying new SRAP markers or by transferringmarkers associated with the trait in other species of the Asteracea family. All thisinformation will facilitate the species genetic improvement, through times decrease andprecision increase.