Genetic variation within the olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivar Oblica detected using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers

Oblica is the predominant olive cultivar in Croatia, spread widely in all the olive growing regions. Morphological variability within the cultivar is well documented but often it has been attributed to environmental factors rather than to genetic ones. In order to investigate intracultivar variability on the molecular level, olive samples from 4 growing regions in Croatia (South  Dalmatia, Middle Dalmatia, Kvarner islands and Iner Dalmatia) were screened for amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP). DNA was extracted from leaf tissue and 9 AFLP primer combinations were used. Genetic distancesbetween individual trees were calculated using Dice similarity coefficient and the dendrogram based on UPGMA cluster analysis was constructed. Preliminary results of AFLP analysis indicate that the cultivar Oblica can be regarded as mixture of clonal variants

Olive Genetic Resources

UMR AGAP - équipe AFEF - Architecture et fonctionnement des espèces fruitièresAs one of the most important and ancient fruit crops in the Mediterranean Basin, olive is characterized by a huge genetic patrimony, represented by cultivated and wild germplasm, ancient trees and related forms. The richness of this germplasm represents an unusual case among horticultural crops, due to species longevity, lack of new better performing genotypes, and the millennial tradition of cultivation. Focusing on a wide spectrum of genetic resources, their conservation, characterization, and management, this chapter tries to give an insight into the achievements and the necessities of this type of works in olive. Knowledge of existing diversity among the olive genetic resources is essential to maximize their conservation, safeguard, and exploitation