Giovanni Mauromicale

Possible alternative utilization of Cynara spp.: I. Biomass, grain yield and chemical composition of grain

Abstract Globe artichoke ( Cynara scolymus L.) and cultivated cardoon ( C. cardunculus L. var. altilis DC.) are horticulturally important crop plants. These species have potential as biomass and oilseed crops. We field tested, for 3 years, two artichoke and two cardoon cultivars and one wild cardoon ( C. cardunculus L. var. sylvestris Lam.) population on the Sicilian plain of Catania (37°27′ N, 15°04′ E, 10 m a.s.l.). On a 3-year average, the dry aboveground biomass resulted about 31 t ha −1 in both cultivated cardoons, 18.8 t ha −1 in wild cardoon, 13.7 t ha −1 in globe artichoke ‘3/10 V.S.’ and 9.9 t ha −1 in globe artichoke ‘374’ F 1 . The caloric values of aboveground biomass (except for seeds), which was not significantly different among genotypes, ranged between 16 005 and 17 028 KJ kg −1 of dry matter. The cultivated cardoon ‘Gigante di Lucca’ had the greatest grain yield (on 3-year average, 2.6 t ha −1 ), whereas the two globe artichokes had the lowest yield (on 3-year average, 0.5 t ha −1 ). Regardless of genotypes and years, the grains contain 20.1% crude protein, 24.4% oil, 18.5% crude fiber and 4.1% ash (dry weight basis). The grains of globe artichokes showed the highest crude protein content (21.6%), whereas those of cardoons the highest oil content (25.2%).

Caffeoylquinic Acids and Flavonoids in the Immature Inflorescence of Globe Artichoke, Wild Cardoon, and Cultivated Cardoon

The species Cynara cardunculus is consumed as part of the Mediterranean diet and consists of the globe artichoke [var. scolymus (L.) Fiori], the cultivated cardoon (var. altilis DC.), and the wild cardoon [var. sylvestris (Lamk) Fiori]. The objective of this study was to investigate, in immature inflorescences, the main flavonoids and phenolic acids (caffeoylquinic acids, apigenin, and luteolin derivatives) by HPLC/diode array detection/mass spectrometry. Apigenin derivatives represented the major class in all samples investigated, highest in cardoon forms. Caffeoylquinic acids and luteolin derivatives were observed in var. scolymus only. Data allowed discrimination of globe artichoke from the related species on the basis of the profile of compounds analyzed. Our results suggest the possible use of cultivated and wild cardoon as a source of phenolic acids and flavonoids and indicate that artichoke consumption is an excellent dietary source of apigenin and other flavones.

Possible alternative utilization of Cynara spp.: II. Chemical characterization of their grain oil

Abstract The grain oils extracted from six genotypes of Cynara species: two globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus L.), two cultivated cardoons (C. cardunculus L. var. altilis DC.) and two wild cardoons (C. cardunculus L. var. sylvestris Lam.), were analysed in order to ascertain their alimentary value. Oil yield, moisture, acidity, peroxide number, UV spectrophotometry and CIE colour parameters, fatty acids, phytosterols and α-tocopherol were determined by standard methods. Cynara species which are most promising in terms of quality and quantity of oil were the cardoons, especially those belonging to the wild cardoon genotypes. Triacylglycerols were the dominant constituents together with very little amounts of phospholipids and glycolipids. The high content of oleic and linoleic acids in a balanced ratio, and the low amount of free acids, peroxides, saturated and linolenic acids ensure a good alimentary quality. Distribution of phytosterols was typical of oil from grain of Asteraceae such as sunflower and safflower. Moreover the optimal α-tocopherol content offers a guarantee of stability against oxidation.

Genetic mapping and identification of QTL for earliness in the globe artichoke/cultivated cardoon complex

BackgroundThe Asteraceae species Cynara cardunculus (2n = 2x = 34) includes the two fully cross-compatible domesticated taxa globe artichoke (var. scolymus L.) and cultivated cardoon (var. altilis DC). As both are out-pollinators and suffer from marked inbreeding depression, linkage analysis has focussed on the use of a two way pseudo-test cross approach.ResultsA set of 172 microsatellite (SSR) loci derived from expressed sequence tag DNA sequence were integrated into the reference C. cardunculus genetic maps, based on segregation among the F1 progeny of a cross between a globe artichoke and a cultivated cardoon. The resulting maps each detected 17 major linkage groups, corresponding to the species’ haploid chromosome number. A consensus map based on 66 co-dominant shared loci (64 SSRs and two SNPs) assembled 694 loci, with a mean inter-marker spacing of 2.5 cM. When the maps were used to elucidate the pattern of inheritance of head production earliness, a key commercial trait, seven regions were shown to harbour relevant quantitative trait loci (QTL). Together, these QTL accounted for up to 74% of the overall phenotypic variance.ConclusionThe newly developed consensus as well as the parental genetic maps can accelerate the process of tagging and eventually isolating the genes underlying earliness in both the domesticated C. cardunculus forms. The largest single effect mapped to the same linkage group in each parental maps, and explained about one half of the phenotypic variance, thus representing a good candidate for marker assisted selection.

Effect of Branched Broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) Infection on the Growth and Photosynthesis of Tomato

Abstract The influence of the holoparasite branched broomrape on the vegetative growth, leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and chlorophyll fluorescence of tomato was studied over two growing seasons on plants grown in a commercial greenhouse. The presence of the parasite strongly reduced the aerial biomass by acting as a competing sink for assimilate, but more importantly, by compromising the efficiency of carbon assimilation via a reduction in leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate. The chlorophyll fluorescence parameters F0, Fm, Fv, and Fv/Fm were all altered in parasitized plants, indicating that branched broomrape–infected plants are more susceptible to photoinhibition. The degree of damage to the host was not dependent on either the number or the biomass of parasitic plants per host plant. We suggest that the ability to maintain a high photosynthetic rate, leaf chlorophyll content, or both and the ability to minimize photoinhibition can be developed as indirect assays for improved tolerance to branched broomrape. Nomenclature: Branched broomrape, Orobanche ramosa L. ORARM; tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Ikram’.

The genome sequence of the outbreeding globe artichoke constructed de novo incorporating a phase-aware low-pass sequencing strategy of F1 progeny.

Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) is an out-crossing, perennial, multi-use crop species that is grown worldwide and belongs to the Compositae, one of the most successful Angiosperm families. We describe the first genome sequence of globe artichoke. The assembly, comprising of 13,588 scaffolds covering 725 of the 1,084 Mb genome, was generated using ~133-fold Illumina sequencing data and encodes 26,889 predicted genes. Re-sequencing (30×) of globe artichoke and cultivated cardoon (C. cardunculus var. altilis) parental genotypes and low-coverage (0.5 to 1×) genotyping-by-sequencing of 163 F1 individuals resulted in 73% of the assembled genome being anchored in 2,178 genetic bins ordered along 17 chromosomal pseudomolecules. This was achieved using a novel pipeline, SOILoCo (Scaffold Ordering by Imputation with Low Coverage), to detect heterozygous regions and assign parental haplotypes with low sequencing read depth and of unknown phase. SOILoCo provides a powerful tool for de novo genome analysis of outcrossing species. Our data will enable genome-scale analyses of evolutionary processes among crops, weeds, and wild species within and beyond the Compositae, and will facilitate the identification of economically important genes from related species.

Effects of intraspecific competition on yield of early potato grown in mediterranean environment

Since the environment of the Mediterranean regions allows offseason production, potatoes are planted in autumn-winter and harvested in spring. During this period, potatoes are subjected to low temperatures and short day lengths which modify the growth characteristics of plants. For this reason, our analysis of competition response was conducted to better clarify the biological relationship between yield and plant density. Field trials were conducted in Sicily (south Italy), a highly representative area of early potato crop in the Mediterranean Basin, with the aim of studying effects of intraspecific competition on tuber yield and yield components. Ten planting densities (ranging from 3.0 to 8.0 plants m−2) were studied on cv. Spunta using “tuberpieces” with a different number of eyes (one eye or all the eyes in 1996; one eye, two eyes, or all the eyes in 1997). Intraspecific competition reduced the tuber yield of individual plants, which became gradually less evident with increasing plant density. Competition affected the number of tubers per plant in the lower plant populations only (from 3.0 to 5.8 plants m−2), whereas effects on average tuber weight were at times more marked in the higher populations (from 5.8 to 8.0 plants m−2) and at other times in the lower densities (from 3.0 to 5.8 plants m−2). As a consequence of increased plant density, and notwithstanding the higher intraspecific competition, the yield of tubers per unit area increased linearly. Regardless of the number of eyes per tuber-piece, when passing from the lower to the higher plant density, yield increased from 34.0 to 54.11 ha−1 in 1996 and from 39.9 to 56.7 t ha−1 in 1997.ResumenDebido a que el clima en las regiones del Mediterráneo permite la producción fuera de época, las papas se siembran entre el otoño y el invierno y se cosechan en primavera. Durante este periodo, el cultivo está expuesto a temperaturas bajas y días cortos, lo cual modifica las características de desarrollo de las plantas. Por esta razón, nuestro análisis de respuesta a la competencia se hizo para aclarar en mejor forma la relación biológica que existe entre el rendimiento y la densidad de plantas. Los ensayos de campo se realizaron en Sicilia (sur de Italia), en un área altamente representativa para el cultivo de papas precoces en la cuenca del Mediterráneo con el objeto de estudiar los efectos de la competencia intraespecífica sobre el rendimiento y los componentes del rendimiento. Se estudiaron 10 densidades de siembra (que variaron de 3.0 a 8.0 plantas m−2) del cultivar Spunta, usando “semilla cortada” con diferente número de ojos (uno o todos los ojos en 1996; un ojo, dos ojos o todos los ojos en 1997). La competencia intraespecífica redujo el núméro de tubérculos en plantas individuales, lo que se hizo menos evidente con el incremento de la densidad de plantas. La competencia afectó el número de tubérculos por planta solo en las poblaciones bajas (de 3.0 a 5.8 plantas m−2), mientras que los efectos sobre el promedio de peso del tubérculo fue a veces más marcado en las poblaciones más altas (de 5.8 a 8.0 plantas m−2) y otras veces en las densidades bajas (de 3.0 a 5.8 plantas m−2). Como consecuencia del incremento de la densidad y sin oponerse a la mayor competencia intraespecífica, el rendimiento de tubérculos por unidad de area se incrementó linealmente. Prescindiendo del numéro de ojos por porción de semilla, cuando se pasó de la baja densidad de plantas a la más alta, el rendimiento se incrementó de 34.0 a 54.1 t ha−1 en 1996 y de 39.9 a 56.7 t ha−1 en 1997.

Soil solarization, a nonchemical method to control branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) and improve the yield of greenhouse tomato.

Abstract Tomato cultivation in the Mediterranean region is susceptible to infestation by the parasitic weed branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa), and severe yield losses can result. The effectiveness of solarization, a soil disinfection technique that uses passive solar heating, to control the incidence of broomrape under greenhouse conditions was studied over two growing seasons. Solarization was accomplished by the application of clear polyethylene sheets to moist soil for 58 to 61 d during the hot season. The treatment increased maximum soil temperature by around 10 C, and at 5 cm below the soil surface, a temperature of more than 45 C was reached for 34 to 58 d, whereas this temperature was not reached at all in the first season and not for 20 d (second season) in unmulched soil. In solarized soil, no broomrape shoots emerged, and neither haustoria nor underground tubercles of the parasite were found on tomato roots. The treatment killed about 95% of buried viable seed, and induced secondary dormancy in the remaining 5%. In nonsolarized plots, broomrape shoots were present at a high density, decreasing plant growth and fruit production. Fruit yield was 133 to 258% higher in the solarized as compared with the nonsolarized treatment. Based on these results, we suggest that soil solarization, which precludes chemical contamination and is suitable for organic farming, is an appropriate technology where the risk of branched broomrape infestation is high. Nomenclature: Branched broomrape, Orobanche ramosa L. ORARA; tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. ‘Ikram’.

The phenology, yield and tuber composition of 'early' crop potatoes: A comparison between organic and conventional cultivation systems

Potato production in several Mediterranean countries is focused on the ‘early’ crop type, and is generallyassociated with intensive applications of farming inputs. Here we report, for the first time, a comparison of crop performance between organic and conventional cultivation systems. Three cultivars were tested over two seasons (2007 and 2008) to record their phenology, yield and tuber chemical composition. The organic cultivation system was less productive than the conventional one across both years with respect to total yield, but in the season (2008) when late blight infection was not severe the difference was narrowed from 7% (Ditta) to 20% (MN 2-1577 S1). The Italian breeding clones (MN 1404 O5 and MN 2-1577 S1) deserve specific consideration due to their higher total yield and nutritional value (in terms of total protein and vitamin C content) under organic cultivation system than the cultivar Ditta. In addition, the organic farming produced tubers with a lower nitrate content, an important benefit in the context of human health. In conclusion, our results indicate that organic cultivation of ‘early’ potatoes can deliver acceptable agronomic and qualitative performances. However, the response of the ‘early’ crop potato to organic farming depends upon both seasonal conditions and cultivar choice. In particular, the selection of appropriate cultivars is one of the key aspects to optimize this environmentally friendly production system.

Polyphenol Oxidase Activity from Three Sicilian Artichoke [Cynara cardunculus L. Var. scolymus L. (Fiori)] Cultivars: Studies and Technological Application on Minimally Processed Production

Several papers helped with the development of more methods to control browning, or study thermal polyphenol oxidase (PPO) inactivation, but did not provide any solutions to technological process problems and food process improvement. Artichokes [ Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus L. (Fiori)] are susceptible to browning; this alteration could affect and reduce the suitability for its use, fresh or processed. Within this study, the catecholase and cresolase activities of PPO from three different Sicilian artichokes cultivar were characterized with regard to substrate specificity and enzyme kinetics, optimum pH and temperature, temperature and pH stability, and inhibitor test; all of the results were used for technological purposes, particularly to optimize minimally processed productions (ready-to-eat and cook-chilled artichokes).