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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Plant Introduction Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207320
Title: SCREENING CORIANDER GENE POOL FOR SPECIAL USES

Author
item LOPEZ, PEDRO - COLEGIO DE POSTGRADUADOS
item Widrlechner, Mark
item Simon, Philipp
item RAI, S. - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item BAILEY, T. - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Gardner, Candice

Submitted to: Proceedings Assoc for Advancement of Industrial Crops (AAIC) Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2007
Publication Date: 10/30/2007
Citation: Lopez, P.A., Widrlechner, M.P., Simon, P.W., Rai, S., Bailey, T.B., Gardner, C.A. 2007. Screening coriander gene pool for special uses. In: Janick, J. and Whipkey, A., editors. Issues in New Crops and New Uses. 2006 AAIC Annual Meeting and Sixth New Crops Symposium, October 14-18, 2006, San Diego, California. p. 280-283.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a member of the Apiaceae family with a wide diversity of uses. Its rapid life cycle allows it to fit into different growing seasons, making it possible to grow the crop under a wide range of conditions. Three subspecies and ten botanical varieties have been proposed at the infraspecific level in coriander; however, molecular evidence does not support classifications based on phenotypic and/or biochemical characteristics. The objective of this study was to reveal phenotypic and biochemical characteristics of coriander populations suitable for different uses and to use amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to clarify patterns of genetic diversity among these populations. In 2002 and 2003, two field trials were conducted for phenotypic characterization of 60 coriander accessions from the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, IA. In 2004 and 2005, biochemical and molecular analyses were carried out, measuring essential-oil and fatty-acid content, and yields of linalool and petroselenic acid on a per-plant basis. Accessions were grouped by suitability of use: as spices and vegetables, for high essential-oil and fatty-acid contents, and for high linalool and petroselenic-acid yields. Eight accessions were considered to be suitable for use of their fruits as a spice, and they are characterized by their high 1000-fruit weight. They all exhibited a short life cycle and originated from Canada, India, Mexico, Netherlands, and Oman. Morphologically, they conform to the subspecies sativum and indicum. Two accessions with longer life cycles and many basal leaves were considered to be suitable for use as vegetables. They originated in the Russian Federation and Syria, and can be considered morphologically intermediate between subspecies indicum and microcarpum. Two accessions, representing subspecies microcarpum displayed high overall essential-oil contents. They were intermediate in life cycle and came from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. These same two accessions presented the highest linalool yields per plant. Five morphologically diverse accessions with high fatty-acid content were intermediate to late in cycle. They came from the Republic of Georgia, Mexico, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkey. The highest petroselenic-acid yields were obtained from five accessions with intermediate life cycles, from Mexico, United States of America, and Tajikistan. Subspecies sativum and microcarpum are represented in this group. In spite of clear differences in phenotypic and biochemical characteristics among these groups, an Analysis of Molecular Variance based on AFLP data provided no clear molecular support for these groups.