An initial comparison of the content of bitter substances in Cynara Scolymus L. plants obtained from rooted of shoots and micropropagation

Cynaropicrin, a sesquiterpene, is the main bitter compound in globe artichoke and is important for the organolectic and nutritional quality of the fresh product and leaf extracts. Artichoke plants of the late variety "Grato 1" obtained from rooted offshoots and by micropropagation were compared with respect to the bitter content in the young leaves and heads. The bitter content, expressed as cynaropicrin (% of dry weight), was determined by an alkalimetric method. The results show a bitter content ranging from 6.82 to 9.63%; the leaves of the micropropagated plants had 29% less bitter content than the plants traditionally propagated by rooted offshoots.