Co-Authors:
Avidan, B., Institute of Plant Science, Volcani Center, ARO, Bet Dagan, Israel
Meni, Y., Institute of Plant Science, Volcani Center, ARO, Bet Dagan, Israel
Lavee, S., Institute of Plant Science, Volcani Center, ARO, Bet Dagan, Israel, Institute of Plant Science, Faculty of Agriculture, HUJ, Rehovot, Israel
Abstract:
The genetic diversity within most olive seedling populations is extremely high probably due to the close relation between the domesticated cultivated olives and the wild type. Although the heredity of some traits was found dominant in some specific crosses the diversity within the progenies remained high. In the present study we determined the degree and type of genetic diversity of some fruit traits in the progenies developed by free and self-pollinated cultivars 'Kalamata', 'Manzanillo', 'Koroneiki' and 'Barnea'. The diversity of fruit traits in progenies of 'Barnea' derived from pollination with cultivars 'Manzanillo', 'Maalot' and 'Souri' were also determined. The level of variation and diversity from the mother cultivar was calculated for each progeny plant and fruit character. For each of the characters measured the level of diversity in the progeny plants was similar as result of free or self-pollination except for some cases fruit size. The effect of dominant heredity such as oil content, fruit form, etc. of specific mother cultivars had no significant effect on the degree of diversity of its progeny. These results have a major impact strategy of approach to olive breeding.