Unité de Recherche 1103 GEQA (Génétique et Ecophysiologie de la Qualité des Agrumes), Station INRA, 20230 San Giuliano, France.
Phytochemistry. 2012 May;77:186-96. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.12.013. Epub 2012 Jan 19.
Native to southeast Asia, the citron (Citrus medica L.) was the first citrus fruit to be introduced to the Mediterranean area, in the third century BC, and remained its only citrus representative until the tenth century. The citron was used for its aroma - stemming from its essential oils in leaves and fruit peels - and as symbols in the Jewish religion. Subsequently, the cultivation of citron was extended significantly, peaking in the nineteenth century, when its fruits were used in cosmetics and confectioneries. The objective of this study was to examine the genetic diversity of the Mediterranean citron with regard to the multiplication and dissemination practices that were related to its uses. We studied the polymorphisms of 27 nuclear and cytoplasmic genetic markers of 24 citron varieties, preserved in the citrus germplasm of INRA-CIRAD, San Giuliano, France. The composition of leaf essential oils was determined to establish varieties and phylogenic relationships between accessions. Other major citrus species were included in the molecular analysis, which demonstrated the existence of 13 genetically linked citrons, differing from other citrus species, based on low heterozygosity and specific alleles; these citrons were considered true-type citrons, confirmed by their convergent chemical profiles. We also detected a polymorphism in the chloroplastic genome in these 13 citrons, which, when combined with allelic diversity of 2.4 alleles per locus, suggests that multiple citrons were introduced to the Mediterranean area in last 2 millennia. We determined the genetic origin and relationships of several varieties, such as Corsican, which could have arisen from the selfing of Poncire Commun. We noted a higher-than-expected polymorphism rate among Mediterranean citron varieties, likely due to crossfecundation. The chemical leaf oil composition of several economical varieties, such as Corsican, is distinct and can increase the quality of specific agriculture products for the cosmetics and candy industries.
原产于东南亚的枸橼（Citrus medica L.）于公元前 3 世纪首次被引入地中海地区，直到 10 世纪一直是该地区唯一的柑橘代表。枸橼因其叶子和果皮中的精油而具有香气，并在犹太教中作为象征。随后，枸橼的种植得到了显著扩展，在 19 世纪达到顶峰，当时其果实被用于化妆品和糖果。本研究旨在研究地中海枸橼的遗传多样性，特别是与利用相关的繁殖和传播实践。我们研究了 24 个枸橼品种的 27 个核和细胞质遗传标记的多态性，这些品种保存在法国 San Giuliano 的 INRA-CIRAD 柑橘种质资源库中。通过确定叶片精油的组成，我们建立了品种和种间关系。其他主要柑橘物种也被包括在分子分析中，该分析表明存在 13 种与其他柑橘物种不同的遗传上相关的枸橼，这些枸橼的杂合度低，存在特定等位基因，被认为是真正的枸橼，这一点从它们趋同的化学特征中得到了证实。我们还在这 13 种枸橼中检测到了叶绿体基因组的多态性，这与每个位点 2.4 个等位基因的等位基因多样性相结合，表明在过去 2000 年中，有多个枸橼被引入地中海地区。我们确定了几个品种的遗传起源和关系，例如科西嘉品种，它可能是由 Poncire Commun 自交产生的。我们注意到地中海枸橼品种的多态性率高于预期，这可能是由于异花授粉。几个经济品种，如科西嘉品种，其叶片精油化学成分独特，可以提高化妆品和糖果行业特定农产品的质量。
