Proceedings of the XLV Italian Society of Agricultural Genetics - SIGA Annual Congress

Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy - 26/29 September, 2001

ISBN 88-900622-1-5

Poster Abstract

COMPARISON OF FLORAL DEVELOPMENT IN THREE OLIVE CULTIVARS GROWN IN ITALY AND ARGENTINA

CÁCERES M.E., LABOMBARDA P., MENCUCCINI M.

CNR Istituto di Ricerche sulla Olivicoltura, Via Madonna Alta 128, 06128 Perugia, Italia

floral biology, Olea europaea, AFLP,enviroments

The floral biology and in particular, the proper development of reproductive organs, is related to the fruit production and therefore the oil yield in olive trees. In this study we compared the microsporogenesis , macrogametogenesis and macrogametogenesis of three cultivars (Leccino, Frantoio, I 77 ) grown in two different environments Perugia (Italy) and Catamarca (Argentina). AFLP analysis was also performed to assess the genetic distance among the clones analysed. In general, meiosis was regular in all the cultivars analysed in both environments. The most striking feature we noted was the high number of abnormalities detected in the cultivar Frantoio compared the Italian performance grown in Catamarca. Such abnormalities regarded mainly the occurring of lagging chromosomes in anaphase and telophase II and asynchronous cell divisions dealing with the formation of a 31% of abnormal microspores together with a 49.5% of non viable pollen. The analysis of percentages of flowers with aborted pistils showed that the cv. Frantoio of Perugia showed greater variability in comparison with the same cultivar in Catamarca.

The embryo sac developed normally in all the cultivars and environments considered. The higher rate of meiotic abnormalities detected in Argentina were addressed the low temperatures at the moment of microsporogenesis that influenced mostly the flower development of the cultivars Frantoio and Leccino. The rate of these abnormalities are related to differences in adaptation and fruit yield among the cultivars and environment investigated.