Natural hybrids between cultivated and wild sunflowers (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus</Emphasis> spp.) in Argentina

Two introduced wild species Helianthus annuus L. and H. petiolaris Nutt. have become widespread in central Argentina and overlap the sunflower crop region. Intermediate off-type plants between the wild and cultivated species are often found, which is of concern because of the recent release of imidazolinone resistant varieties and the likely use of genetically modified sunflower cultivars. The progeny of 33 off-type plants obtained from 14 representative sites of the diffusion area were studied to confirm hybrid origin. Germination, survival, morphological traits and days to flowering confirmed hybridization between crop and both wild species, when compared to eight accessions of typical wild plants. Some progenies were presumably crop–wild H. annuus hybrids, some originated from the cross of cultivated plants and H. petiolaris, and two were the advanced generation of a cultivated hybrid. Hence, morphological traits are a good clue for the identification of spontaneous hybrid plants at field. The results indicate that crop–wild hybridization and introgression occur at various places in central Argentina. This fact may represent a way to herbicide resistance escape and future transgene escape if GM sunflower cultivars are released for commercial use.     

Evaluation of perennial wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer</Emphasis> species for drought resistance

About 90% of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in the world is grown under rainfed conditions where drought is one of the major constraints limiting its productivity. Unlike the cultivated chickpea, wild Cicer species possesses sources of resistance to multiple stresses; we therefore evaluated perennial wild Cicer species for resistance to drought. C. anatolicum, C. microphyllum, C. montbretii, C. oxydon and C. songaricum were compared with special checks; C. echinospermum, C. pinnatifidum and C. reticulatum and five cultivated chickpeas. After the cultivated chickpeas were killed, accessions were evaluated using a 1–5 scale, where 1 = highly drought resistant (no visible drought effect and full recovery after three successive wiltings) and 5 = highly drought susceptible (leaves and branches dried out, no recovery at all). All accessions of perennial wild Cicer species were significantly superior to those annual wild species and the cultivated chickpeas including the best drought tolerant chickpea, ICC 4958 under drought conditions. Perennial wild Cicer species did not only recover after wilting and drying out above ground level, they also tolerated high temperatures up to 41.8°C. But, they do not cross with the cultivated chickpeas. C. anatolicum should be taken account in long term breeding programs because it has closer affinities to the first crossability group than the others.     

Genetic Nature of Yams (Dioscorea sp.) Domesticated by Farmers in Benin (West Africa)

‘Domestication’ is a traditional farmers’ practice reported for yams (Dioscorea sp.) in Benin (West Africa). It involves introducing ‘spontaneous’ (naturally occurring) yams, supposedly wild (D. abyssinica and D. praehensilis), in varieties of the D. cayenensis–D. rotundata cultivated species complex. In this study, we established the genetic nature of ‘predomesticated’ yam plants using the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. A total of 213 accessions, consisting of 32 predomesticated yams, 70 D. cayenensis–D. rotundata, 86 D. abyssinica and 25 D. praehensilis yams were analysed. Using 91 AFLP markers, three groups of accessions were distinguished, broadly corresponding to the above botanical species. Of the 32 predomesticated accessions, 16% were clustered with D. praehensilis, 37% with D. abyssinica and the remaining 47% with D. cayenensis–D. rotundata. These results demonstrated the use of wild plants by farmers in their domestication process, and suggested that plants derived from intervarietal and interspecific hybridisation may also be subject to this process. This study has shown that through domestication farmers influence and increase the genetic diversity in yam by using sexual reproduction of wild and possibly cultivated yams.     

Origin of cultivated Tatary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) revealed by RAPD analyses

The phylogenetic relationships among cultivated landraces and natural populations of wild subspecies of Tatary buckwheat were investigated at the individual level by constructing a phylogenetic tree based on RAPD markers. As the PCR templates, DNA of individuals rather than bulked samples, was used. Ten individuals from 10 cultivated landraces, 71 individuals from 21 natural populations of wild subspecies, and 7 individuals from 3 weedy Tatary buckwheat were provided for RAPD analyses. Three groups were recognized: (1) all cultivated landraces and wild subspecies from central Tibet and northern Pakistan; (2) 10 individuals of wild subspecies from northwestern Yunnan; (3) the remaining individuals of wild subspecies from northwestern Yunnan and all individuals of wild subspecies from Sichuan. Group (2) was phylogenetically closely related to group (1). The origin of cultivated Tatary buckwheat, the hybrid origin of weedy Tatary buckwheat and of the wild populations from central Tibet and northern Pakistan are discussed. We arrive at the conclusion that cultivated Tatary buckwheat probably originated in northwestern Yunnan in China.     

Genetic diversity of the African hexaploid species Solanum scabrum Mill. and Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae)

Two hexaploid species of Solanum sect. Solanum are present in Africa: Solanum scabrum and S. nigrum. Solanum scabrum is a widely cultivated species and is used as a leafy vegetable, as a source of medicine and as a source of ink dye. In previous studies a wide range of morphological diversity has been reported in this species and in some studies subspecies have been proposed. Subspecies are also recognized in S. nigrum. However, it has not been established whether or not the morphological differences are reflected at the genomic level. The present study applies AFLPs to study the genetic diversity in S. scabrum and its relationship to geographical provenance, morphological differences and the possible existence of subspecies within S. scabrum and S. nigrum. The data obtained were analyzed with cluster analysis (using UPGMA and NJ). The results indicate that the genetic variation within S. scabrum was higher within accessions than between accessions. Accessions did not cluster according to their geographical provenance, indicating that accessions from different geographical areas were not significantly different genetically. The clustering reflected neither morphological differences nor domestication status (cultivated or wild). The morphological differences exhibited by S. scabrum could be due to selection by farmers for different plant types. The AFLP derived clustering pattern did not segregate the subspecies recognized in S. scabrum and S. nigrum into separate subclusters.     

Phylogenetic position of east Tibetan natural populations in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaert.) revealed by RAPD analyses

Phylogenetic relationships among cultivated landraces and natural populations of wild subspecies of Tartary buckwheat were investigated by constructing an NJ tree based on RAPD markers focussing on east Tibetan natural populations. Ten plants from three cultivated landraces and 29 plants from five natural populations of wild subspecies in eastern Tibet were used for RAPD analyses. The wild subspecies from eastern Tibet was classified into three types; (1) same type as cultivated landraces; (2) closely related to natural populations of northwestern Yunnan; and (3) an exceptional population, Zhuka, which was closely related to Sichuan populations. Since the type (2) is considered as the wild ancestral type of cultivated Tartary buckwheat, we conclude that eastern Tibet too may be one of the center of origin of this crop.     

PCR Marker-based Analysis of Wild and Cultivated Yams (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dioscorea</Emphasis> spp.) in Nigeria: Genetic Relationships and Implications for <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex situ</Emphasis> Conservation

Reliable characterization of the variation among wild and cultivated yams in Nigeria is essential for improved management and efficient utilization of yam genetic resources. RAPD and double stringency PCR (DS-PCR) analyses were used to investigate genetic relationships and the extent of redundancy among 30 accessions of two cultivated, and 35 accessions of four wild yam species collected from Nigeria. Twenty-five selected random decamer and two microsatellite primers were used individually and in combination to generate DNA profiles for each accession of the six Dioscorea species. The number of amplified fragments varied from 7 to 18 fragments per primer/primer combination. Different levels of intraspecific genetic diversity were found, with Dioscorea rotundata Poir. being the most variable. Based on identical profiles for the RAPD and DS-PCR primers, 12 duplication groups consisting of a total number of 37 accessions were observed in the present study. An UPGMA analysis grouped the majority of plants according to the species. Cultivated yams belonging to the D. cayenensis–rotundata species complex, which were classified into seven morphotypes/varietal groups, could be clearly separated into two major groups corresponding to D. rotundata Poir. and D. cayenensis Lam. D. cayenensis cultivars exhibited a low level of intraspecific variation and were genetically close to the wild species Dioscorea burkilliana J. Miège. D. rotundata cultivars classified into six varietal groups showed a high degree of DNA polymorphism and were separated into two major groups that appeared most closely related to Dioscorea praehensilis Benth. and Dioscorea liebrechtsiana de Wild. We propose, based on these results, that cultivars classified into D. cayenensis should be considered as a taxon separate from D. rotundata. The implications of intraspecific variability for the ex situ conservation of wild and cultivated yam germplasm in Nigeria are discussed.     

Phenotypic diversity and delimitation between wild and cultivated forms of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrus</Emphasis> in North-eastern Spain based on morphometric analyses

We investigated morphological evidence that might allow wild Pyrus spp. to be distinguished from cultivated material (Pyrus communis L.) in the North-eastern Iberian Peninsula. 134 pear trees were identified in the wild and characterized by 13 quantitative and 13 qualitative leaf–shoot and fruit traits. The trees were visually classified into two preliminary groups of wild and cultivated material and discriminant functions, based on a reference collection for allocating individuals to one of the groups, were constructed. Both classifications were compared with a near-optimal numerical classification (the two-stage Ward-MLM strategy) using two criteria. The visual assignment of trees allocated 60% of trees to the wild group and 40% to the cultivated group. The overall discrepancy rate between the field classification and the discriminant analysis was low (17.4%). In general, wild individuals had smaller leaves, shorter petioles and more rounded and smaller fruits than their cultivated counterparts. They also had small-to-intermediate petiole widths, thorns on their shoots and straight or convex fruit profiles. However, the Ward-MLM strategy always formed better groups, in terms of the two criteria used, in all the continuous and categorical variables, for both leaf–shoot and fruit traits. Likewise, the agreement between classifications (discriminant analysis and Ward-MLM strategy) was only partial, with some Ward-MLM groups composed of both wild and cultivated material in similar proportions. This result suggests a limited success in identifying genuine wild individuals based on morphometric data, which can be ascribed either to poor phenotypic diversity and lack of distinguishing traits among species or to widespread crossability and subsequent development of hybrid/introgressant populations between wild and cultivated specimens.     

The diversity and sustainable development of crop genetic resources in the Lancang River Valley

This paper reviews the status of crop genetic resources in Yunnan province of China from 1978 to 1999. Results are presented of same research in the field of the diversity of cultivated and wild crop. Yunnan is one of the centre of origin or genetic diversity of more than 200 cultivated and wild crops. There are over 500 cultivated plants which account for over 80% of the total in China and more than 650 species of wild crops. In addition, there are more than 440 species of main wild flowers. According to our recently researches there are abundant species, subspecies and varieties of crop genetic resources in Yunnan Province. The Lancang River Valley is the richest genetic diversity centre of rice, maize, wheat, barley, buckwheat, legumes, ramie, sugarcane, vegetable, tea, actinidia and so on. For example, there are 59 varieties (including all varieties of Oryza sativa L. in China) in 5933 accession of Yunnan indigenous rice. The Lancang River Valley is one of the centre for genetic diversity of rice resources and a rich region for elite and rare rice resources of Yunnan, too. In order to protect the highly endangered crop genetic resources in the Lancang River Valley, it is necessary and very important to set up a collection, conservation, utilization and research system, enhancing their protection and utilization, in situ- and ex situ-conservation, farm management and sustainable production.     

Processes affecting genetic structure and conservation: a case study of wild and cultivated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica rapa</Emphasis>

When planning optimal conservation strategies for wild and cultivated types of a plant species, a number of influencing biological and environmental factors should be considered from the outset. In the present study Brassica rapa was used to illustrate this: to develop Scandinavian conservation strategies for wild and cultivated B. rapa, DNA-marker analysis was performed on 15 cultivated and 17 wild accessions of B. rapa plus 8 accessions of the cross compatible B. napus. The B. rapa cultivars were bred in Sweden and Finland in 1944–1997 and the wild B. rapa material was collected from Denmark, Sweden and United Kingdom. The B. napus accessions were bred within the last 20 years in the Scandinavian countries. Results were based on scoring of 131 polymorphic ISSR markers in the total plant material. A Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach implemented in NewHybrids demonstrated a clear distinction of B. rapa and B. napus individuals except for three individuals that seemed to be backcrosses. The backcrossed hybrids descended from two Swedish populations, one wild and one escaped. The overall pattern of genetic variation and structure in B. rapa showed that cultivated and wild B. rapa accessions formed two almost separated clusters. Geographical origin and breeding history of cultivars were reflected in these genetic relationships. In addition, wild populations from Denmark and Sweden seemed to be closely related, except for a Swedish population, which seemingly was an escaped cultivar. The study point to that many processes, e.g. spontaneous introgression, naturalisation, breeding and agricultural practise affected the genetic structure of wild and cultivated B. rapa populations.     

Vigna vexillata (L.) A. Rich. Cultivated as a Root Crop in Bali and Timor

Vigna vexillata is considered as a pantropical distributed wild species closely related to the cowpea (Vigna uniculata) and adapted to infertile soils. The species is occasionally used for its storage roots as well as forage and erosion control plant. The objective of this study was to pursue personal communications that V. vexillata has be transformed into a cultivar in Indonesia. Seven Indonesian islands were visited (Java, Bali, Sumba, Flores, Timor, Kalimantan and Sulawesi). Wild V. vexillata was found in Java, Bali, Sumba, Flores and Timor, occasionally used as wild ‘forest food’, and cultivated V. vexillata was found in Bali and Timor, Seven cultivars were collected and two of these were made available for the National Botanic Garden of Belgium. The cultivars were primarily cultivated for their storage roots, propagated by seeds, required no scarified seeds for good germination and formed non-dehiscent pods. On-farm root yields of 18–30 t ha⁻¹ and seed yields of 0.7–1.2 t ha⁻¹ were estimated. A brief discussion about the common names of wild V. vexillata is given and it is proposed to use the name ‘tuber cowpea’ for V. vexillata accessions which are cultivated for their storage roots. The material may be of interest for regions, where the growing season is too short or the rainfall too low for sweet potato and cassava as well as to incorporate cultivar characteristics into wild V. vexillata accessions which are used for their storage roots.     

Diversity of aroma patterns in wild and cultivated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fragaria</Emphasis> accessions

Plant breeders are interested in strawberry species as donors of volatile compounds in breeding programmes because of the diversity and intensity of wild strawberry aroma. Therefore, the topic of this paper is the prospective analysis of four accessions of four wild strawberry accessions in comparison to a standard cultivar of Fragaria × ananassa Duch. by using human sensory, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) and gas chromatography–olfactometry (GCO). The wild species have higher aroma intensities compared with the cultivated one. The flavour quality differs significantly. Semiquantitative GC analysis revealed that F. × ananassa cv. ‘Elsanta’ has the lowest content of volatile compounds whereas Fragaria moschata L. ‘Cotta’ has the highest. The aroma impressions, measured by GCO, support the findings of GCMS analyses. The nasal impact frequency (NIF)-profiles of the wild types are more manifold and of higher intensities than those of the cultivated F. × ananassa cv. ‘Elsanta’ which corresponds with the overall flavour impression when tasting the fresh fruits.     

On the origin of artichoke and cardoon from the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cynara</Emphasis> gene pool as revealed by rDNA sequence variation

The evolutionary history of artichoke and cultivated cardoon and their relationships to wild allies of the genus Cynara are not fully understood yet. To try resolve the evolutionary patterns leading to the domestication of these two crops, a study of molecular evolution was undertaken. The species C. cardunculus, including artichoke, cultivated and wild cardoon, together with four wild Cynara species were taken into consideration. Internal (ITS) and external (ETS) rDNA transcribed spacers were used as markers of nuclear genome, the psbA-trnH spacer as a marker of chloroplast genome. Sequences were analysed using phylogenetic analysis packages. Molecular data indicate that the whole genus is quite recent and that the domestication of artichoke and cultivated cardoon, crops diverging for reproduction system and use, are independent events which diverge in time and space. As for wild Cynara species, an evolutionary pattern consistent with their present geographical distribution was hypothesized in relation to the climatic changes occurring in the Mediterranean during the last 20 millennia: C. humilis and C. cornigera appeared to have differentiated first, C. syriaca and C. baetica were differentiated in a second period, while C. cardunculus showed to be the most recent and plastic species. The high plasticity of C. cardunculus has not only allowed its nowadays wide distribution, but has also given the potential for domestication. Dedicated to the memory of Richard Neville Lester (1937–2006) who greatly contributed to the understanding of the evolution, domestication, and genetic resources of eggplants as well as to the biosystematics and taxonomy of allied species. IGV Publication N. 78 of the Institute of Plant Genetics, CNR     

Identification of artichoke SSR markers: molecular variation and patterns of diversity in genetically cohesive taxa and wild allies

A set of 24 microsatellite markers was identified in the artichoke genome, using various approaches. A genomic library allowed the development of 14 SSR markers, whereas the other 10 were obtained from gene intron/UTR regions or from other species. Allelic variation was scored in C. cardunculus (artichoke, cultivated cardoon, and wild cardoon) samples, and in other wild Cynara allies. For the 23 polymorphic loci, a total of 165 alleles were scored, 135 of which in the artichoke primary genepool, and the remaining ones in the other Cynara species. Some allele combinations were able to identify artichoke varietal types, and some alleles were unique to specific groups. This makes these markers potentially useful in product traceability and in contributing to the saturation of genetic maps. The percentage of shared alleles between C. cardunculus taxonomic groups, and Nei’s genetic distances indicated that wild cardoons from the Eastern Mediterranean were more closely related to artichoke and less to cultivated cardoon in comparison to wild cardoons from the Western Mediterranean, and the genetic distance between the two wild cardoon genepools was rather high. The UPGMA dendrogram based on Nei’s genetic distances revealed that artichokes formed a fairly defined cluster, whereas Eastern wild cardoons occupied another branch, and Western wild cardoons were clustered together with cultivated cardoons. The transferability of microsatellite markers to other Cynara wild species was quite good. Sequencing alleles at three loci showed that, apart from microsatellite length variation, point mutations and insertion/deletions were quite abundant especially when comparing C. cardunculus to the other Cynara species. In the sequenced regions, some SNPs were identified which distinguished artichoke on one side, and cultivated and wild cardoon on the other, while other SNPs were apportioned according to the geographic distribution of Cynara wild species.     

The origin of Manihot esculenta Crantz (Euphorbiaceae)

Summary Contrary to views that cassava (Manihot esculenta) is only known in cultivation an argument is made that wild accessions of the species grow over much of the American neotropics, in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, and Surinam. Three subspecies are recognized. M. esculenta subsp. esculenta is the domesticate and includes all cultivars known in cultivation. The wild M. esculenta subsp. peruviana occurs in eastern Peru and western Brazil. The wild M. esculenta subsp. flabellifolia shows a wider distribution and ranges from the central Brazilian state of Goiás northward to Venezuelan Amazonia. The large area of distribution of the two wild subspecies makes it difficult to assign a place of initial domestication.     

Genetic Diversity of the Vigna Germplasm from Thailand and Neighboring Regions Revealed by AFLP Analysis

Thailand is a center of diversity for section Angulares of the Asian Vigna (genus Vigna subgenus Ceratotropis) and 4 Vigna species are cultivated in Thailand. Using newly collected wild and cultivated germplasm of Vigna from Thailand and outgroup accessions AFLP analysis was conducted to clarify genetic diversity and relationships. The results suggest that cultivated V. umbellata and V. mungo evolved from wild relatives in a single domestication event. Vigna umbellata is poorly differentiated from its wild and weedy relatives compared to V. mungo. Results suggest northern Thailand and the neighboring Shan state, Myanmar, is the probable center of domestication for V. umbellata as wild accessions from this area and cultivated rice bean from a wide area in Asia are not greatly diverged. Vigna minima, V. tenuicaulis and V. exilis accessions in Thailand are well differentiated with considerable intra-specific variation. Vigna hirtella consists of two well differentiated subgroups, suggesting taxonomic revision may be necessary. Close genetic relationships between V. radiata and V. grandiflora, and between V. mungo and V. trinervia are confirmed. Naturally growing V. mungo populations in northern Thailand appear to be true wild species as they are well differentiated from Indian wild and Thai cultivated populations. The origin of naturally growing cowpea in Thailand needs to be further studied using a more comprehensive set of materials. This study clarifies inter and intra-specific genetic diversity and inter species relationships of Thai Vigna species.     

Molecular phylogeny of genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Guizotia</Emphasis> (Asteraceae) using DNA sequences derived from ITS

Complete sequences for the internal transcribed spacers of the 18s–26s nuclear ribosomal DNA were generated to establish phylogenetic relationships among five species of the genus Guizotia. Parsimony analysis and pairwise distance data produced a single tree with four clearly distinguished clades that accord with previously reported chromosomal data. The clades produced here have been discussed with reference to existing taxonomic treatments. It appears that Guizotia scabra ssp. scabra, G. scabra ssp. schimperi and Guizotia villosa have contributed to the origin of Guizotia abyssinica, the cultivated species of the genus. The present composition of the species of genus Guizotia and the subtribe the genus presently placed in are suggested to be redefined.     

Genetic resources of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus</Emphasis> (Rosaceae) in India

The genetic diversity in genus Prunus is mainly confined to temperate regions of Himalaya and to a lesser extent in the sub-montane and hilly regions of peninsular India. The cultivated and wild species of Prunus have tremendous potential for improvement and utilization. This paper includes the genetic resources of cultivated and wild useful species of Prunus in India with emphasis on their distribution, potential traits/ useful characteristics and utilization. The information on potential genetic resources of Prunus would be helpful in collection, evaluation, conservation and utilization of species.     

Analysis of population substructure,genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationships among selected Asiatic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna</Emphasis> Savi species

Random amplified polymorphic DNA markers were used to study sub-structure and genetic differentiation amongst 31 populations (seven cultivated and 24 wild populations) belonging to 14 Asiatic Vigna species. Ten pre-selected RAPD primers generated 152 polymorphic amplification products. Estimates of polymorphism indices were higher for the wild taxa in comparison to the cultivated forms. F_ST values between populations ranged from 0.111 to 0.801 and Nei’s genetic diversity values between and within species varied from 0.26 to 0.70 and 0.04 to 0.56 respectively. The high F_ST and F_CT values indicated strong subdivision of populations and high differentiation among species. Analysis of molecular variance was performed by grouping the populations conforming to specific species. AMOVA was also performed separately to better resolve the differentiation of species within mungo–radiata complex. Molecular phylogenetic relationships amongst the species of radiata–mungo complex; namely, black gram (V. mungo (L.) Hepper), green gram (V. radiata (L.) Wilczek), V. radiata var. sublobata, V. radiata var. setulosa, V. mungo var. silvestris and V. hainiana, were studied through cluster analyses. Two distinct groups were recognized within the complex, with population samples of V. hainiana forming one cluster. Further, V. hainiana appeared to be equidistant to both V. radiata and V. mungo.