In this work, we assess both the morphological and genetic diversity of 68 important olive cultivars from three Southern Italian regions: Calabria, Campania and Sicily. Twenty-five phenotypic traits were evaluated and 12 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were analysed. All SSR primers were polymorphic and reliable. The total number of alleles per locus varied from 5 to 19 with an average number of 13.1 and a mean polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.81. These results suggested high genetic diversity within these three olive germplasm collections. Morphological traits also showed significant variability amongst cultivars. Two cases of identity were found and ten statistically significant cases of putative parent/sibling were discovered by performing a SSR-based parentage simulation analysis with CERVUS. The Mantel test indicated low but significant correlations between the morphological data and SSR allelic frequency, origin and SSR allelic frequency, and origin and morphology. Structure software allowed inference of relationships between the three olive germplasm collections and allowed us to obtain the most consistent grouping and to identify putative admixed or exchanged cultivars. Cluster and multivariate analysis, based on morphological traits, revealed geographic grouping in agreement with UPGMA dendrogram and structure analysis using SSRs. Sicilian cultivars showed a more homogenous genetic makeup, probably due to geographical isolation, whilst Calabrian and Campanian cultivars seemed to have a less distinct genetic structure, with a greater degree of intermixing. A correlation between the presence of certain SSR alleles and fruit size was also found

Trees of the olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivar Carolea grown in Calabria (Italy) in three sites with different main climate traits (temperatures, rainfall, Growth Degree Days seasonal variations) were studied for three years to see the ripening time course and quality of the oils. The optimal harvesting time for obtaining the best-quality olive oils was defined for each site. The effect on quality indexes of three harvesting periods was also considered, linking this to the observed various thermal regimes. The different climates largely affected the growth and the development of fruits and the quality of obtained oils. Lower temperatures and higher rainfall slow down fruit growth and development and delay ripening. Olive oils of good quality (free acidity, fatty acid composition, antioxidant components and oxidative stability were obtained in the site with lower temperatures and higher rainfall when fruits were still yellow-green ripe and had a detachment index between 1.9 and 1.5. Climate change, evidenced by rising temperatures, led to the movement of olive groves from the high-temperature coastal plain to the intern foothills.

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Abstract:The bergamot (Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau), a citrus fruit growing almost exclusively in the South Italy, is considered the "prince of citrus" for its storical role in the perfume industry due to its essential oil, a product in great demand of a pleasant and refreshing scent. Recently, analgesic, anxiolytic, neuroprotective consistent effects have been ascribed to bergamot essential oil when it is used in aromatherapy, for the relief of pain and symptoms associated with stress-induced anxiety and depression. Moreover, today, bergamot fruit due to a considerable abundance and variety of nutraceutical compounds which are present in its juice, is becoming increasingly important also in the food, pharmaceutical and confectionery industries. In this review, it is discussed that the literature on C. bergamia, focusing on the several studies performed with the experimental data, and recently accumulated, may form the rational basis for further development.

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