THREE NEW CULTIVARS OF ARTICHOKE SELECTED FROM THE TRADITIONAL ITALIAN MARCHE POPULATIONS ARE IN PROGRESS OF RELEASE AT THE NATIONAL VARIETY REGISTER

V. Ferrari, N. Ficcadenti, E. Piccinini, M. Caioni
The genetic variability within the globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus L.) represents a limit to the production uniformity but, on the other hand, these populations are an important genetic resource and a useful starting point for the selection of new clones. In the frame of the recovery and safeguard activities of these traditional spring populations performed within the CAR-VARVI project, the aim of the work consisted in studying the variability within each population and selecting clones with more interesting phenotypic expression of a typical product. The clones were characterized by using UPOV descriptors. After two years of clonal selection three new cultivars named ‘ORA-Iron Cup’, ‘ORA-Castori’ and ‘ORA-Federico’, were presented for the release at the National Variety Register. In particular, the ‘ORA-Iron Cup’ and the ‘ORA-Castori’ belong to the Romanesco group and are characterized by mid-maturity (end of April), medium size-heads, absence of spines and a medium production weight of 1.1 and 1.0 kg plant-1, respectively. The ‘ORA-Federico’ belongs to the Spinoso and Violetto groups and is characterized by early maturity (beginning of April), medium-size, violet-colored heads and a good production weight ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 kg plant-1.
Ferrari, V., Ficcadenti, N., Piccinini, E. and Caioni, M. (2013). THREE NEW CULTIVARS OF ARTICHOKE SELECTED FROM THE TRADITIONAL ITALIAN MARCHE POPULATIONS ARE IN PROGRESS OF RELEASE AT THE NATIONAL VARIETY REGISTER. Acta Hortic. 983, 251-258
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.983.35
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.983.35
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus L., clonal selection, spring cultivars, genetic diversity, morphological traits
English

Acta Horticulturae