Development of molecular genetic maps and massive SNP mining through ngs technology in Cynara cardunculus L.

Two F1 progenies involving the cross of the globe artichoke genotype Romanesco C3 by the cultivated cardoon 'Altilis 41' as well as the wild cardoon 'Creta 4' were generated; the former allowed to construct the first cultivated cardoon map which was integrated with the one of globe artichoke. A wide set of SSR loci derived from ESTs was positioned into the reference genetic maps and a consensus SSR-based linkage map was developed. To further saturate the C. cardunculus map, with the goal to investigate the genetic basis controlling traits of interest, a broad-based sequencing approach was applied for the development of a large and robust SNP dataset. Next-Generation sequencing (NGS) technologies were applied using two complementary approaches: (i) genomic RAD (Restriction-site Associated DNA) tag sequencing in combination with the Illumina platform; (ii) transcriptome sequencing, via 454 (Roche) and Illumina technologies. These SNPs represent a one-stop resource to produce a dense C. cardunculus genetic map via high-throughput genotyping technologies.