ISHS Acta Horticulturae 681: IV International Congress on Artichoke
MORPHOLOGIC, BIOLOGIC AND PRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF SICILIAN POPULATIONS OF WILD CARDOON (CYNARA CARDUNCULUS L. VAR. SYLVESTRIS LAM.) |
| Authors: | S. Foti, S.A. Racciua, V. Cavallaro |
| Keywords: | Wild cardoon, germplasm collection, biomass, seed production. |
| Abstract:
The considerable interest in wild cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L. var. sylvestris Lam.), arises not only from its Mediterranean origin, which makes it particularly suited to the environmental conditions of the area, but also from its fittingness to very different crop utilisation: biomass for energy, oil of good alimentary value from seeds and inulin from heads and roots. For these reasons, in the eastern part of Sicily, the Study Centre for strategic crops for the Mediterranean environment began an intense work of collection and characterisation of Sicilian cardoon populations. Results of a first evaluation of the biological, morphological and productive characteristics of the 13 populations collected are referred here. Field experiments were carried out in 1998-1999 and in 1999-2000, in an experimental field at the Catania plain in Sicily (37°27’ N, 15°04’ E, 10 m a.s.l.). A noticeable variability was observed as regards some important biological, morphological and productive characteristics. In particular it is worthwhile noting that: germinability, almost always exceeded 80%; in the second year, at the full establishment of the crop, biomass with the exception of seed, exceeded 2500 g plant-1 of d.m. in some genotypes; seed production 170 g plant-1 and reached 195 g plant-1 in ‘C2’. In conclusion, the first results obtained, indicate that among the studied genotypes, some seem to be especially interesting for their productive characteristics and may be used in breeding and to develop cultivars for different crop utilisation. Moreover, the great variability observed in some important traits even in populations collected in the same locality seems to indicate the richness of Sicilian germplasm and to encourage further collection. | |
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