Preliminary Study on the Genetic Diversity of Sicilian Populations of <i>Crataegus azarolus</i> (<i>Rosaceae</i>) and Their Wild Relatives for Conservation and Valorisation Purposes
Sicily, Southern Italy, has important genetic resources for azarole (<i>Crataegus azarolus</i>). The region hosts both spontaneous wild populations and various forms of the genus, some of which belong to well-defined specific or intraspecific taxa, while others are hybrids of unclear ori...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Floriana Bonanno Simona Aprile Vivienne Spadaro Francesco M. Raimondo Antonio Giovino |
| author_facet | Floriana Bonanno Simona Aprile Vivienne Spadaro Francesco M. Raimondo Antonio Giovino |
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| description | Sicily, Southern Italy, has important genetic resources for azarole (<i>Crataegus azarolus</i>). The region hosts both spontaneous wild populations and various forms of the genus, some of which belong to well-defined specific or intraspecific taxa, while others are hybrids of unclear origin. Not all wild forms can be considered related to <i>C. azarolus,</i> but those included in the sect. <i>Azaroli</i> and thus <i>C. aronia</i> (= <i>C</i>. <i>azarolus</i> var. <i>aronia</i>), which is widespread in western Sicily, certainly can. All these populations are morphologically distinct but coexist in the same area. This preliminary genetic study aims to establish the genetic relationships between wild populations of <i>Crataegus</i> taxa and azarole (<i>C. azarolus</i>). Furthermore, the research addresses the lack of clear taxonomic information regarding the different phenotypes found in Sicily, including both recognized taxa and those still critically underreported. The study is based on SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) molecular markers, isolated from other <i>Rosaceae</i> species. The findings indicate that at least two groups affiliated with <i>C. azarolus</i>, yet distinct, are present in Sicilian populations. These results could have significant implications for systematics and taxonomy, as well as for conservation and the valorization of plant biodiversity. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-3e11bcdf138e4d689e98f8af96afa4342025-08-20T02:28:20ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182025-04-0117425810.3390/d17040258Preliminary Study on the Genetic Diversity of Sicilian Populations of <i>Crataegus azarolus</i> (<i>Rosaceae</i>) and Their Wild Relatives for Conservation and Valorisation PurposesFloriana Bonanno0Simona Aprile1Vivienne Spadaro2Francesco M. Raimondo3Antonio Giovino4Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, ItalyCouncil for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Section of Botany, Anthropology and Zoology, University of Palermo, 90123 Palermo, Italy<i>PLANTA</i>/Center for Research, Documentation and Training, Via Serraglio Vecchio 28, 90123 Palermo, ItalyCouncil for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), 90128 Palermo, ItalySicily, Southern Italy, has important genetic resources for azarole (<i>Crataegus azarolus</i>). The region hosts both spontaneous wild populations and various forms of the genus, some of which belong to well-defined specific or intraspecific taxa, while others are hybrids of unclear origin. Not all wild forms can be considered related to <i>C. azarolus,</i> but those included in the sect. <i>Azaroli</i> and thus <i>C. aronia</i> (= <i>C</i>. <i>azarolus</i> var. <i>aronia</i>), which is widespread in western Sicily, certainly can. All these populations are morphologically distinct but coexist in the same area. This preliminary genetic study aims to establish the genetic relationships between wild populations of <i>Crataegus</i> taxa and azarole (<i>C. azarolus</i>). Furthermore, the research addresses the lack of clear taxonomic information regarding the different phenotypes found in Sicily, including both recognized taxa and those still critically underreported. The study is based on SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) molecular markers, isolated from other <i>Rosaceae</i> species. The findings indicate that at least two groups affiliated with <i>C. azarolus</i>, yet distinct, are present in Sicilian populations. These results could have significant implications for systematics and taxonomy, as well as for conservation and the valorization of plant biodiversity.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/4/258Sicilian floraazaroleethnobotanybiological resourcesparental relationshipsmolecular markers |
| spellingShingle | Floriana Bonanno Simona Aprile Vivienne Spadaro Francesco M. Raimondo Antonio Giovino Preliminary Study on the Genetic Diversity of Sicilian Populations of <i>Crataegus azarolus</i> (<i>Rosaceae</i>) and Their Wild Relatives for Conservation and Valorisation Purposes Diversity Sicilian flora azarole ethnobotany biological resources parental relationships molecular markers |
| title | Preliminary Study on the Genetic Diversity of Sicilian Populations of <i>Crataegus azarolus</i> (<i>Rosaceae</i>) and Their Wild Relatives for Conservation and Valorisation Purposes |
| title_full | Preliminary Study on the Genetic Diversity of Sicilian Populations of <i>Crataegus azarolus</i> (<i>Rosaceae</i>) and Their Wild Relatives for Conservation and Valorisation Purposes |
| title_fullStr | Preliminary Study on the Genetic Diversity of Sicilian Populations of <i>Crataegus azarolus</i> (<i>Rosaceae</i>) and Their Wild Relatives for Conservation and Valorisation Purposes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preliminary Study on the Genetic Diversity of Sicilian Populations of <i>Crataegus azarolus</i> (<i>Rosaceae</i>) and Their Wild Relatives for Conservation and Valorisation Purposes |
| title_short | Preliminary Study on the Genetic Diversity of Sicilian Populations of <i>Crataegus azarolus</i> (<i>Rosaceae</i>) and Their Wild Relatives for Conservation and Valorisation Purposes |
| title_sort | preliminary study on the genetic diversity of sicilian populations of i crataegus azarolus i i rosaceae i and their wild relatives for conservation and valorisation purposes |
| topic | Sicilian flora azarole ethnobotany biological resources parental relationships molecular markers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/4/258 |
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