Relationships among radicchio (Cichorium intybus L.) types grown in Veneto and diversity between local varieties and selected lines as assessed by molecular markers

Red or variegated chicory (Cichorium intybus L., 2n=2x=18) native to, and very extensively cultivated in North-Eastern Italy as a leafy vegetable, locally called “radicchio”, includes different types which represent valuable high-quality crops. The five major types of radicchio cultivated in the Veneto region were investigated by PCR-derived molecular markers (e.g. RAPDs, AP-PCRs, I-SSRs and AFLPs). The possibility of discriminating the different cultivated types was established by exploiting two different approaches: individual DNA vs. bulked DNA samples. Genetic similarity within, and differentiation and gene flow between types were estimated on the basis of the distinct marker systems. The effectiveness of phenotypic selection and the relatedness between local varieties and selected lines were also investigated. The molecular information acquired, along with morphological and phenological descriptors, will be useful for the certification of typical local products of radicchio and for the recognition of a protected geographic indication (IGP) mark.