Proceedings of the XLVII Italian Society of Agricultural Genetics - SIGA Annual Congress

Verona, Italy - 24/27 September, 2003

ISBN 88-900622-4-X

Poster Abstract - 2.59

A NEW HYBRID OF CAULIFLOWER “VERDE DI MACERATA” USING CYTOPLASMIC MALE STERILE: “MAGNIFICO F1”

E. SABATINI*, N. ACCIARRI*, G. VITELLI*, G. CAMPANELLI*, M. GALLERANI**, G.P. CRESCENZI**, R. LEVIEIL**

*) Istituto Sperimentale per l’Orticoltura Sezione di Monsampolo del Tronto (MiPAF)

**) Clause-Tezier

Brassica oleracea var, Botrytis L., Verde di Macerata, hybrid, male sterile

Italy is the most important center of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var, botrytis L. ) diversity. In particular, the curd show different shapes and colors. “Verde di Macerata” ecotype has green curds and two genes control the curd color. The cauliflowers with green pigmentation could be an attractive type as the most common white types. The main breeding objectives of this work were to improve plant and curd uniformity and overall quality, and to extend the harvest period. To accomplish these goals a joint research agreement was set up between Istituto Sperimentale per l’Orticoltura and Clause-Tezier France. In particular, we aimed to reduce bractiness, riciness (i.e: early development of flower buds) and looseness which spoil the curds surface. New lines of ‘Verde di Macerata’ type were obtained by means of recurrent selection of segregant population derived from crosses and back-crosses between ‘Verde di Macerata’ and ‘Tardivo di Fano’, a white type with late maturity. Androgenetic lines, obtained through anther culture, were also used. Selected lines with different and enlarged period of maturity were crossed with cytoplasmic male sterile lines to obtain new hybrids F1.

“Magnifico F1” is the first hybrid obtained in the framework of this research agreement is. It is commercialized by Clause-Tezier. “Magnifico F1” is the first hybrid with a period of commercial maturity more late than the original ecotype and the cultivars available until now. In center Italy, with a transplant on 20^th-25^th August, the harvest begins at half of January. The maturation is concentrated in 10-15 days. The head of “Magnifico” has high specific weight because of the compactness and the semispherical shape. The plant has a good vigor useful for winter production and long vegetative period. The head is not covered by leaf during increasing, this characteristic is important to have a more intense green color at harvest. “Magnifico” shows a good resistance to over maturity and serve the good characteristics of inflorescence from 400 to 2000 grams.

From the Joint Research Agreement new hybrids of “Romanesco” and “Tardivo di Fano” types are going to be released.