RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA ANALYSIS OF OLIVE (OLEA-EUROPAEA L) CULTIVARS

Seventeen olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars, including oil and table olive cultivars originating from throughout the Mediterranean area, we re screened using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The results indicate that a high degree of polymorphism is evident in the olive germplasm we examined. Forty random decamer primers were screen ed; seventeen of these produced 47 reproducible amplification fragment s useful as polymorphic markers. Each of time 17 cultivars can be disc riminated with a few primers. Results were analyzed for similarity amo ng the cultivars and a cluster analysis was performed. These analyses revealed two main groups: one comprising primarily small-fruited culti vars grown mainly for oil production, and the other characterized by h aving large fruit. There was no apparent clustering of olive cultivars according to their geographic origins.