The potential of the globe artichoke biodiversity in the Mediterranean area is enormous\nbut at risk of genetic erosion because only a limited number of varieties are vegetatively propagated\nand grown. In Apulia (southern Italy), the Regional Government launched specific actions to rescue\nand preserve biodiversity of woody and vegetable crops in the framework of the Rural Development\nProgram. Many globe artichoke ecotypes have remained neglected and unnoticed for a long time\nand have been progressively eroded by several causes, which include a poor phytosanitary status.\nSanitation of such ecotypes from infections of vascular fungi and viruses may be a solution for their\nex situ conservation and multiplication in nursery plants in conformity to the current EU Directives\n93/61/CEE and 93/62/CEE that enforce nursery productions of virus-free and true-to-type certified\nstocks. Five Apulian ecotypes, Bianco di Taranto, Francesina, Locale di Mola, Verde di Putignano\nand Violetto di Putignano, were sanitized from artichoke Italian latent virus (AILV), artichoke latent\nvirus (ArLV) and tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV) by meristem-tip culture and in vitro\nthermotherapy through a limited number of subcultures to reduce the risk of ââ?¬Å?pastel variantsââ?¬Â\ninduction of and loss of earliness. A total of 25 virus-free primary sources were obtained and\nconserved ex situ in a nursery.
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