Micropropagation of globe artichoke is an alternative method for production of large-scale vegetative material, particularly for spring cultivars. In spite of the widespread use of in vitro propagated material both for artichoke large-scale commercial production and for germplasm preservation, there is a lack of information about the consequences of in vitro propagation on genetic stability of globe artichoke. In the present work leaves from mother plants grown in the field and from in vitro multiplicated shoots were analyzed over two years to determine genetic stability and to evaluate the influence of the number of subcultures on the generation of somaclonal variants. Genetic stability was assessed using ISSR and SSR molecular markers on four ecotypes and two lines derived by crosses. The primers used exhibited a varying ability to detect genetic variation as shown by their polymorphic information content (PIC) values. It was found that ISSRs can be applied effectively in the evaluation of genetic stability/variability, including in vitro, detected by an automated sequencer. The technique was effective in detecting changes occurring during the micropropagation process. Statistically significant differences were revealed among clones, i.e. there were clones accumulating a greater amount of changes while others showed a lower degree of changes during subculture. Nevertheless, the general trend of changes across the subculture was similar, reaching a maximum rate between the 2nd and 4th subcultures. These results are important to both the theoretical and practical points of view, for breeders in order to proceed for variety registration, and their implications are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Export Date: 27 June 2013Source: Scopus