Karyotype of Globe Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus): Preliminary Studies to Define Its Chromosome Morphology

Cynara cardunculus L. (2n=34) is a traditional vegetable crop of the Mediterranean basin including two cultivated varieties: Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus L (globe artichoke), grown for its fleshy capitula, and C. cardunculus var. altilis DC (cardoon) grown for its succulent young leaves. Unlike other species belonging to the family of Asteraceae (i.e., sunflower, lettuce and chicory), the genome organization and the chromosome morphology both of globe artichoke and cardoon has not been sufficiently explored. To our knowledge, no karyotype analysis for this species is available so far. Different factors make very difficult the definition of chromosome morphology such as: the plant rigid cell wall, the presence of cellular debris, the thick cytoplasmic remains and the small size of the 34 chromosomes of Cynara cardunculus. In order to develop an effective chromosome preparation method for globe artichoke karyotyping here we evaluated different chromosome preparation systems and we observed the effect of some spindle inhibitors on globe artichoke cell cycle. The first Cynara cardunculus L var. scolymus L. karyotype is presented.