How is broccoli classified botanically?
There are obvious differences in plant morphology and color of broccoli. According to the plant morphology and color, broccoli can be divided into three types: blue and white, purple and yellow-green. Gray (1982) thinks that broccoli is derived from the color variation of purple cabbage based on the close genetic relationship between purple cabbage and broccoli. In most literatures, cauliflower vegetables are classified as two varieties of cabbage, namely broccoli varieties. Grape spores and broccoli varieties. Italian p. purple cauliflower is also classified as a broccoli variety. Sun Deling et al. (2002) used AFLP molecular marker technique to study the genetic relationship of cauliflower vegetables. The results show that white, green, purple and yellow cauliflower vegetables have high genetic homology and close genetic relationship, while purple cauliflower and broccoli show close genetic relationship, but their genomes are clustered into a subgroup independently, so it is more reasonable to regard purple cauliflower as an independent variety like broccoli and cauliflower in classification status. However, there are few reports on the evolutionary relationship between blue and white, purple flower and yellow and green, and there is still insufficient evidence, which still needs further in-depth study and discussion.