Twenty-five landraces of the cherry-like tomato named Corbarino, a typical niche product grown in the Sarno valley of the Campania region, have been characterized. The landraces used have been compared to eight cultivars widely spread in the same area of cultivation. The genetic diversity within and between landraces was evaluated through the comparison of DNA fingerprints obtained with (GATA)(4) probe hybridized to TaqI digested genomic DNA. Twenty-two of the Corbarino landraces were homogeneous and were unequivocally characterized by their DNA fingerprints. The others are probably "population varieties" in that within each of them polymorphic DNA fragments were identified. According to the characterization of fruit shapes, four groups were identified. One landrace from each group, harvested at the same ripening degree, was further characterized for yield, fruit quality components, antioxidant activities, and carotenoid contents and compared to Faino F(1) and Tomito F(1) hybrids. The Corbarino landraces were all characterized by high yield, a high level of carbohydrates, and high levels of soluble and total solids. Interestingly, the biotype named ISCI 05 was the most suitable for canning. Landraces ISCI 07 and ISCI 05 gave the highest value of antioxidant activities and carotenoid content. These data, together with previously published results, suggested that ISCI 05 should be proposed for the institution of a Label of Origin.

Seed globulins of ten Vigna species were separated by means of SDS electrophoresis . Both inter and intraspecific variation were observed .Groups of specific bands which do not vary in the species being present in all the accessions of the species were identified . These species-specific bands, allow the identification of the 10 Vigna spp . analyzed .

No abstract

No abstract

RiassuntoLe produzioni agricole tradizionali italiane, caratterizzate da una ricca diversità genetica, possono incrementare la competitività del comparto agricolo mediante l'ottenimento di marchi di qualità da parte della Unione Europea. La protezione dei marchi di qualità richiede strumenti appropriati per l'accertamento dell'identità genetica dei materiali vegetali pregiati sia in campo che nelle rispettive filiere agro-alimentari. Il fingeprinting del DNA rappresenta un eccellente metodo di identificazione di cultivars ed accessioni di specie erbacee ed arboree e, quando basato su profili allelici di specifici marcatori quali gli SSR, può tracciare ed autenticare le materie prime nelle filiere agroalimentari. Vengono descritti esempi di caratterizzazione della diversità molecolare ed identificazione varietale di specie erbacee ed arboree mediante i profili SSR, AFLP e (GATA) 4 . Vengono, inoltre, descritti esempi di tracciabilità genetica dei materiali vegetali delle filiere olivo, melo, frumento duro e pomodoro.Parole chiave: diversità molecolare, filiere agro-alimentari, identificazione varietale, SSRs, tracciabilità. Summary NEW GENETIC TOOLS TO IDENTIFY AND PROTECT TYPICAL ITALIAN PRODUCTSDuring last decades the use of local varieties was strongly reduced due to introduction of modern cultivars characterized by higher yield, and breed for different traits of agronomic value. However, these cultivars not always have the quality aspects that was found in old traditional and typical crops also depending from the know-how of traditional cultivation. Nowadays the practise of intensive agriculture select only a small number of species and varieties with a consequent reduction of the diversity in agro-ecosystems and risk of loss of important alleles characterizing genetic materials adapted to specific environments. The creation of quality marks of the European Union proved to be a successful system to protect typical products through the Denomination of Origins (PDO-Protected Denomination of Origin and PGI-Protected Geographical Indication). However, the protection of quality needs efficient instruments to discriminate DOP or IGP varieties in the field and to trace them along the agro-food chain. DNA fingerprinting represents an excellent system to discriminate herbaceous and tree species as well as to quantify the amount of genetic variability present in germplasm collections. The paper describes several examples in which AFLPs, SSRs and minisatellite markers were successfully used to identify tomato, artichoke, grape, apple and walnut varieties proving to be effective in discriminating also closely related genetic material. DNA fingerprinting based on SSR is also a powerful tool to trace and authenticate row plant materials in agro-food chains. The paper describes examples of varieties traceability in the food chains durum wheat, olive, apple and tomato pursued through the identification of SSR allelic profiles obtained from DNA isolated from complex highly processed food, such as bread, olive oil, apple pureè...