Onions are the second most-valuable vegetable in the world. Despite its global culinary and economic significance, the knowledge of genetic diversity and resources is limited. The aim of this study was to morphologically and physico-chemically characterize eighty-six onion landraces from Spain, part of the secondary Mediterranean Centre of diversity. The evaluated traits in the bulb included: weight, shape, firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), pungency and sugars content (glucose, fructose and sucrose). The results evidenced a great variability in all the evaluated traits. Correlations were significant between pungency and SSC (r = 0.34), firmness (r = 0.32), and sucrose content (r = 0.34); between fructose and glucose contents (r = 0.79); between sucrose content and SSC (r = 0.57); between SSC and weight (r = -0.35); between fructose and sucrose contents (r = -0.22); and between weight and sucrose content (r = -0.43). The combination of cluster and discriminant analyses resulted in a classification into four clusters (95.3% fit). Cluster 1 is represented by firm, pungent and large-sized bulbs; cluster 2 consists of large-sized, mild and sweet onions; cluster 3 is constituted by pungent, high-SSC and small-sized bulbs and cluster 4 is made up by elongated bulbs. The variability in important agronomical traits found point out that these onion accessions could be candidates for future breeding programs. In addition, the clustering could make the initial plant material selection easier and the correlations among the evaluated traits found could help to establish adequate selection strategies.Additional key words: cluster analysis; firmness; genetic diversity; pungency; soluble solids; sugars. Resumen Caracterización de los recursos genéticos de cebolla (Allium cepa L.) procedentes del centro secundario de diversificación de EspañaLa cebolla es el segundo cultivo hortícola a nivel mundial. Sin embargo, el conocimiento sobre los recursos y la diversidad genética de esta especie es limitado. Por ello, el objetivo del presente trabajo consistió en el estudio morfológico y físico-químico de una colección de 86 cultivares de cebolla procedentes de España (que forma parte del centro secundario de diversificación). Los caracteres evaluados en el bulbo incluyeron: peso, forma, firmeza, contenido en sólidos solubles (SSC), pungencia y contenido en azúcares (glucosa, fructosa y sacarosa). Los resultados evidenciaron una gran variabilidad en todos los caracteres evaluados. Las correlaciones fueron significativas entre la pungencia y SSC (r = 0,34), firmeza (r = 0,32) y contenido en sacarosa (r = 0,34); entre contenido en fructosa y glucosa (r = 0,79); entre contenido en sacarosa y SSC (r = 0,57); entre SSC y peso (r = -0,35); entre contenido en fructosa y sacarosa (r = -0,22) y entre el peso y contenido en sacarosa (r = -0,43). El análisis discriminante dio lugar a la formación de cuatro grupos con un ajuste del 95,3%. El grupo 1 está formado por bulbos grandes, firmes y picantes, el grupo 2 por cebollas grandes, su...
The common borage, Borago officinalis L., is of Euro-Mediterranean origin, but is found extensively in the wild. It is also cultivated as a garden plant, crop vegetable, or pharmaceutical herb. Analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) revealed high levels of genetic diversity among 10 borage wild accessions and seven cultivars, which included five white-flowered selections grown in northern Spain for petiole production, and two blue-flowered lines used medicinally. These latter two cultivars and populations, sampled far from the original habitat of the species, were closely related to wild borage populations from northern Europe. The two medicinal cultivars did not differ from each other, while those used for petiole production differed significantly from their Spanish wild relatives. Differences among the 17 populations accounted for 41.4% of the total genetic variability; this value increased to 50.8% when only the 10 wild populations were considered. Population differentiation and within-population variability are discussed in relation to mating system, selection, and conservation practices.
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