Diversity assessment of Algerian wild and cultivated olive (Olea europeae L.) by molecular, morphological and chemical traits

Abstract

Algeria has several genetic resources on olive trees, mainly made up of small indigenous cultivars, and a very important wild heritage.

We characterized 20 olive samples including eight cultivars and twelve wild trees from the province of Bejaia (Algeria), by combining molecular data (13 SSRs), fruit and pit morphological traits, fatty acids composition and phenolic compounds of the EVOOs. The genetic results based on PCoA, UPGMA and AMOVA analysis demonstrated that olive cultivars and wild trees are mixed suggesting kinship relationships between cultivated and wild olive trees and even the presence of cases of synonymy between some cultivars. PCA analysis on morphological traits showed a good separation of the two olive botanical varieties, the wild olive trees producing smaller fruits than those of the cultivated ones. Significant differences were also found in terms of fatty acids and phenol compounds composition of the EVOOs. Wild olive oils showed the highest contents on phenolic compounds mainly oleocanthal, as well as a considerable richness on oleic acid. The comparison of pairwise distances between olive trees obtained by genetic, morphological, fatty acids and phenolic compounds contents data using Mantel's test indicated a significant correlation among morphological characteristics, DNA polymorphism and phenolic compounds.

The results obtained in the present work contribute to reveal the diversity existing in the cultivated and wild olive trees of the region of Bejaia, shedding some light on the importance of Algerian olives germplasm.

Practical applications: Cultivated and wild olive diversity were assessed by genetic, morphological, fatty acids and phenolic composition. SSR marker analysis demonstrated the presence of a high genetic variations between the analyzed samples

A significant correlation of morphological characteristics with DNA polymorphism and phenolic compounds was foundA significant diversity in the wild and cultivated olive trees was observed.

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