Genotyping and evaluation of local olive varieties of a climatically disfavoured region through molecular, morphological and oil quality parameters

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae Vol. 130; no. 3; pp. 562 - 569
• Main Authors: Rotondi, Annalisa, Cultrera, Nicolò G.M., Mariotti, Roberto, Baldoni, Luciana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 30.09.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agricultural and farming systems; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotypes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Olive oil; SSR; Sustainable cultivation; Video Image Analysis; Sustainable cultivation; SSR; Olive oil; Video Image Analysis; Ecotypes; Typing; Horticulture; Video technique; Genotype; Olive; Image analysis; Sustainable agriculture; Microsatellite DNA; Morphology; Quality; Ecotype; Molecular domain
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2011.08.005
• ISSN: 0304-4238

► The study was applied on minor olive varieties of a restricted and climatically disfavoured region of North Italy. ► Genetic and morphological profile, quality of oils were considered. ► Multidisciplinary study of clonal selection have allowed to select ten most interesting olive genotypes. ► The selection of best olive genotypes could improve olive cultivation in cold climate conditions ► Video Image Analysis has increased the reliability of morphological cultivar discrimination. The evaluation criteria applied on a 34 set of minor and main olive varieties of a restricted and climatically disfavoured region of Italy have allowed to clearly identify some local varieties with valuable agro-ecological adaptation and outstanding oil quality traits. These traits are necessary for the establishment and/or improvement of olive culture in a disadvantaged cultivation area. The molecular and morphological analyses have allowed to establish the identity of local unknown ecotypes, establishing their relationships either with other local varieties or with wide-spread cultivars, while the evaluation of oil quality parameters ranked their suitability for further exploitation. These genotypes will represent the starting material for promoting new opportunities of olive cultivation in disfavoured areas. These criteria could be usefully applicable to any other region characterized by difficult conditions and the presence of local unexploited ecotypes.