Iniziative di ricerca per la coltura del carrubo in Sicilia

In this paper we describe some of the activities that are in progress since few years at Catania University (Italy) on carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.). Carob tree is a minor species well adapted to Mediterranean climate especially in marginal dry areas; in the past this species has been considered neglected and underutilized, but nowadays it is gaining popularity, since the flour extracted from the seed (locust bean gum) is used in food industry. Researches concerning germplasm collection and evaluation, propagation and molecular studies are described. So far 52 accessions, both varieties and wild types, have been found in Italy and other Mediterranean countries and some of these accessions have been used for bio-agronomical and technological evaluation and for molecular characterization through AFLP markers. Results confirm the high level of intraspecific variability and allow to formulate some hypotheses on the provenience of the hermaphrodite varieties in Sicily. A molecular approach has been set up in order to investigate some aspects of floral biology; concerning propagation an in vitro protocol is being developed.