Characterization and selection of globe artichoke and cardoon germplasm for biomass, food and biocompound production
Author(s)
Ciancolini, Anna
Date Issued
July 6, 2012
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
Globe artichoke and cardoon, belonging to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family, are herbaceous
perennial plants native to the Mediterranean area, which are traditionally grown as vegetables for
the heads and the fleshy petiole leaves, respectively.
Italy is the richest reserve of globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus L.) autochthonous
germplasm, which is vegetatively propagated and well adapted to the different pedoclimatic
conditions of the Country. On the basis of head harvest time, these traditionally grown genetic
resources are classified as early or late distinct clonal varietal groups. Other distinct varietal groups
are also identified, according to the morphological traits of the head, into four main typologies such
as Violetto di Sicilia, Spinoso Sardo, Catanese and Romanesco.
In Central Italian environments, the Romanesco type, characterized by a spherical or sub-spherical
and non-spiny green-violet heads, is widespread. In the last years, the development of in vitro
technologies allowed the propagation of Romanesco globe artichoke type and its rapid expansion.
As a result, the Romanesco clone C3 has been in vitro micropropagated and widely distributed to
the farmers. This clone has replaced many Romanesco landraces traditionally grown in the Latium
Region and has led either to a significant erosion of local genetic resources or a loss of diversity.
Moreover, introduction of new seed-propagated F1 hybrids such as Madrigal, Concerto, Opal, Tema,
and Romolo, well suited to market demands, represents a further factor increasing the risk of
genetic erosion for autochthonous germplasm. As regards Italian cultivated cardoon (Cynara
cardunculus var. altilis DC) germplasm, there are few studies on its genetic characterization and
identification and there is a lack of information about the genetic variability existing within and
among accessions. For the wild cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. sylvestris Lam.), no specialized
crop is present and it represents mainly a weed in Italian environments.
The great variability existing in Cynara spp. has not been described, the nomenclature of Italian
germplasm is not always very clear since there are many cases of homonyms. In addition to this risk
of genetic erosion, in the last years, Italian globe artichoke sector is facing a crisis due principally to
the appearance on the market of foreign products and to the high labor cost required for crop
cultivation and harvesting. In order to overcome this crisis several possible uses of Cynara spp.
were considered such as i) seeds for oil, ii) roots for inulin, iii) biomass for energy, iv) fiber for pulp
and paper and as potential reinforcement in polymer composites v) green forage for ruminant
feeding, vi) proteins as natural rennet for traditional cheese making, and vii) entire plant for metalaccumulation.
These new possible applications of the crop are linked principally to the European
Union research support on new agricultural by-products (industrial raw materials) and led to an
increasing interest also in aboveground globe artichoke biomass.
Considering these preliminary remarks, a strategy for valorizing Italian germplasm using biomass
and biocompound production has been carried out during the three years of PhD program. In
particular, nine Italian spring landraces (Ascolano, Campagnano, Castellammare, Jesino,
Montelupone A, Montelupone B, Bianco di Pertosa, Pisa and Tondo Rosso di Paestum), ten
‘Romanesco’ clones (S2, S3, S5, S11, S17, S18, S22,S23, Grato 1 and Campagnano), seven
cultivated cardoon accessions (AFB, AFFG, AFGR, AFGI, AFM, AFM2, AFN) and AFS wild
cardoon belonging to the joint germplasm collection of Tuscia University and ENEA have been
considered in our PhD study.
Open field trials were conducted at the Experimental Field Station of ARSIAL (Latium Regional
Agency for the Development and the Innovation of Agriculture) in Cerveteri, Rome and in
Tarquinia, Viterbo while greenhouse experiments were carried out at the Experimental Station of
Tuscia University in Viterbo (Italy).
The first objective of PhD work consisted in (i) characterizing agro-morphologically Italian
germplasm using UPOV descriptors, (ii) assessing the genetic variability existing within and among
landraces/clones and (iii) identifying and preserving genetic resources for the development of future
plant breeding programs. As a result of this characterization, three genotypes have been selected
and registered under the names of Michelangelo, Donatello and Raffaello. In order to analyze
Italian Cynara spp. germplasm also from a biomass point of view, different traits explaining plant
vigor and dry matter production have been considered. The aerial biomass yield resulted very high
underlining the possibility of using this crop as raw industrial material. In particular, some
genotypes, such as Ascolano, Campagnano, Pisa, Bianco di Pertosa for globe artichoke and AFFG
and AFM for cardoon showed the highest biomass yield.
A focal point of PhD program was to set up biocompound extraction methods and analysis
techniques to optimize polyphenol recovery from biomass of Cynara spp at a laboratory scale. In
particular, conventional (i.e. Soxhlet and maceration) and modern extraction techniques (such as
Microwave-Assisted Extraction MAE, and Accelerated Solvent Extraction ASE) have been
compared and, using a full two-level factorial experimental design, ASE was found as the best
extraction technique which allows to reduce extraction time and solvent consumption, increase
nutraceutical yield and improvement of extract quality. Moreover, the kinetics of biomass and biocompound
production has been evaluated and the optimal physiological stage to collect plant
material grown in open field has been identified.
Biochemical characterization has been performed using the methods set up and collecting plant
material in the optimal physiological stage identified in order to distinguish which genotypes were
more suitable for bio-compound production purpose. As a result of morphological and biochemical
characterization, genotypes were well distinguished from each other and were identified those
which are the most suitable for food use, for biomass production and/or for dual-production (food
and non-food).
The last focal point of PhD program was the development of an alternative technique for biomass
and biocompound production in greenhouse grown conditions. The adaptation of globe artichoke
and cardoon genotypes to floating system has been evaluated and the biochemical and molecular
responses of the plant to the salinity stress have been also investigated.
Results obtained in the three PhD years, highlighted the possibility of using successfully some
Cynara spp. genotypes for biomass and bio-compound production, in particular in open field
condition. Also the real prospect of using some globe artichoke genotypes for food and non-food
dual-production (biomass for biocompound extraction and heads for human food) has been
underlined.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Ortoflorofrutticoltura
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