Assessment of genetic variation among local artichoke varieties by RAPDs and morphological characters

'Sakiz' and 'Bayrampasa' are two local artichoke varieties with extended growing areas and an important contribution to the Turkish artichoke production. It is also known that, depending on the cultivation time, c.v. `Sakiz' is irreversibly divergening to the "Yerli type of artichoke". The extent of genetic variation among them is still unknown. It is also unknown weather any relationship exists among them at genetic basis. The aim of this study was to establish an overview of the genetic relationship among the cvs. 'Bayrampasa', 'Sakiz' and the diverged type `Yerli'. For this purposes plant materials were collected from different regions of Turkey where artichoke is intensively grown. Genetic similarities and differences were assessed by using both, RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) markers and morphological observations such as yield, leaf and bud properties on these plants. Significant variations within population of each variety were noticed. Presence of such variation possibly will force to establish and maintain the new plantations by careful selection considering certain variety properties. The significant differences detected between cvs. 'Sakiz' and 'Bayrampasa' on the basis of morphological traits and molecular markers showed that the degree of genetic distance was high. There was no apparent distance in the genetic structure between the cv. `Sakiz' and the `Yerli' type plants. It was also assessed that identification between of `Sakiz' and `Yerli' type plants by using morphological characters only could not be sufficient. Finally, it can be said that these variations could be useful for breeding of new globe artichoke varieties.