ISHS Acta Horticulturae 693: III International Chestnut Congress
APPLICATION AND EVALUATION OF MORPHOLOGICAL, PHENOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF CASTANEA SATIVA MILL. CULTIVARS |
| Authors: | G.L. Beccaro, R. Botta, D. Torello Marinoni, A. Akkak, G. Bounous |
| Keywords: | chestnut, DNA, SSR, leaf, descriptor |
| Abstract:
The identification of chestnut cultivars has been traditionally based on the observation of morpho-phenological traits whose expression is largely influenced by developmental and environmental factors. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the efficacy and efficiency of different techniques for the characterization of Castanea sativa Mill. The studied plants were representatives of 6 local cultivars (‘Neirana’, ‘Gioviasca’, ‘Pelosa’, ‘Solenga’, ‘Marrone Val Pellice’ and ‘Ruiana’), grown in an orchard located in a Western Alps Valley in Piedmont, a mountainous region in the NW of Italy with a centuries old tradition in chestnut culture. Trees were 120-150 years old, grown in homogeneous environmental conditions and managed with the same agronomic techniques. The characterization of the cultivars was done using molecular techniques, and methods based on morphological and phenological observations. The genetic characterization was performed by multiplex analysis of seven microsatellite loci isolated in Castanea sativa Mill. and Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl. Morphological observations were carried out on leaves and nuts, considering both quantitative measures and qualitative traits of the nut. Concerning the main quantitative nut descriptors, differences between sampled individuals were significant for all of the observed traits, and the variability within the cultivar was very high. DNA analysis was very effective for the characterization of the varieties and revealed the existence of 10 genotypes in 6 cultivars; cases were observed either of intra-varietal polymorphism or of misnaming. | |
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