Genetic relationships in the olive (Olea europaea L.) reflect multilocal selection of cultivars

One hundred and two olive RAPD profiles were sampled from all around the Me diterranean Basin. Twenty four clusters of RAPD profiles were shown in the dendrogram based on the Ward's minimum variance algorithm using chi-square distances. Factorial discriminant analyses showed that RAPD profiles were c orrelated with the use of the fruits and the country or region of origin of the cultivars. This suggests that cultivar selection has occurred in diffe rent genetic pools and in different areas. Mitochondrial DNA RFLP analyses were also performed. These mitotypes supported the conclusion also that mul tilocal olive selection has occurred. This prediction for the use of cultiv ars will help olive growers to choose new foreign cultivars for testing the m before an eventual introduction if they are well adapted to local conditi ons.