Diversity in Allium ampeloprasum: from small and wild to large and cultivated

Allium ampeloprasum evolved as a complex of different cyto- and morpho-types widely distributed either in the wild or domesticated range of the Mediterranean regions. The assessment of genetic and phylogenetic relationships between Tunisian A. ampeloprasum and specimens from different origins and with variable degree of domestication can promote conservation and breeding. Minisatellite M13, microsatellite (GTG)₅ and nucleotide sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) were used to assess DNA polymorphism and genetic diversity. M13 and (GTG)₅ molecular markers efficiently discriminated A. ampeloprasum gene-pool from A. sativum. Geographic genetic patterns of variation of the wild gene-pool were not detected. However, domesticated A. ampeloprasum (great headed garlic, kurrat and leek) clustered consistently within the ampeloprasum group. A. sativum was found to be closer to A. ampeloprasum than A. fistulosum and A. schoenoprasum. A high number of single point mutations (SNPs) was recorded over the ITS1-2 spacer sequence. Most of these SNPs were heterozygous only in great headed garlic. It is inferred that heterozygosity played the major role in promoting great headed garlic domestication. Thus, great headed garlic adaptation to horticultural conditions along with its yield trait sizes are mainly associated to heterozygosity rather than to polyploidy.