Genetic Diversity of Tunisian Olive Tree (Olea europaea L.) Cultivars Assessed by AFLP Markers

Abstract

About 29 olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars including oil and table olive cultivars originating from Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries, were genotyped using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) DNA markers. This technique is a rapid and efficient method for producing DNA fingerprints. Using nine AFLP primer combinations, we produced a total of 410 AFLP markers, among which 172 revealed polymorphism. The results demonstrated a high degree of polymorphism in the olive germplasm we examined with an average of 39%. These AFLP markers were analyzed to estimate genetic distances between pairs of cultivars using Jaccard's similarity coefficient. Furthermore, cluster and principal component analyses were performed in order to identify the genetic variation patterns. Two main groups were obtained: one comprising primarily small-fruited cultivars grown mainly for oil production and the other comprising large fruited cultivars (regardless of their end-use). Our results show no evidence of clustering of olive cultivars according to their geographic origin.

Molecular characterization of olive cultivars using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers

“…Previously, Grati-Kamoun et al (2006) showed that the AFLP marker system was able to separate closely related olive (Olea europaea L.) accessions. Thus, our result is also in general agreement with this study.…”

“…The primer combinations differed in their ability to detect polymorphism within populations. Grati-Kamoun et al (2006) characterized 29 olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars including oil and table olive cultivars originating from Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries using AFLP markers. Using nine AFLP primer combinations, they produced a total of 410 AFLP markers, among which 172 revealed polymorphism.…”

Genetic diversity of Brazilian and introduced olive germplasms based on microsatellite markers

“…The olive tree has a large number of commercial cultivars with different levels of self-incompatibility (Grati-Kamoun et al, 2006). The phenological and reproductive biology of this species has been the focus of several studies aimed at identifying self-compatible cultivars and assessing rates of self-sterility (Albertini et al, 2011).…”

Fruit Germplasm Characterization: Genomics Approaches for the Valorisation of Genetic Diversity

“…Owen et al, (2005) used AFLP markers to evaluate the structure of genetic diversity among common olive varieties cultivated in the Eastern Mediterranean. Additionally, AFLP analysis, as previously described and has been used in genetic variability studies for about 29 varieties (including oil and table olive varieties originating from Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries) of the genus Olea using nine AFLP primer combinations (Grati-Kamoun et al, 2006). Different studies (Busconi et al, 2003, Pafundo et al, 2005 have reported that it is possible to use AFLP markers for genotyping olive species.…”