INTRA-VARIABILITY OF THE PORTUGUESE OLIVE CULTIVAR GALEGA VULGAR EXPRESSED BY RAPD, ISSR AND SPAR

Selection and characterisation of olive Portuguese cultivars represents a major interest, with particular emphasis on those cultivars responsible for the generation of olive oil under the classification of Protected Denomination Origin (DOP).
The most important Portuguese olive oil DOP variety is Galega Vulgar, representing 80% of the olive patrimony in Portugal.
To study the intra-variability associated to this cultivar a total of 77 accessions belonging to the five olive oil occurrence regions of Galega Vulgar variety were analysed.
These regions are: Alto Alentejo (I), Baixo Alentejo (II), Ribatejo-Abrantes (III), Ribatejo-Santarem (IV) and Beiras (V).
Three different techniques were used: RAPDs (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA), ISSR (Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat) and SPAR (Single Primer Amplification Reaction).
Hierarchical methods of group analysis revealed two major groups: one grouping the accessions from Region I and the other grouping the accessions into four sub-clusters each one representing one of the remaining regions.
Non-hierarchical approach associated the accessions in five groups according to their geographical origin, with high coherence within groups and relevant discrimination between them.
These results indicate that the agronomic diversity found in this variety is a consequence of its genetic variability.
Therefore, the population under study represents a good genetic base to perform adequate selection.
Also, the structure of relatedness and group formation suggest Region I as being the possible region of origin of the Galega Vulgar cultivar.

IV International Symposium on Olive Growing

V.J.V. Gemas, M.J. Rijo-Johansen, P. Fevereiro

genetic diversity, molecular markers, Portuguese cultivar, genetic similarity, discriminant analysis.

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.586.30