IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i17p10684-d899336.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring Olive Genetic Diversity in the Maltese Islands

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Cristina Valeri

    (Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, 06128 Perugia, Italy)

  • David Mifsud

    (Institute of Earth Systems, Division of Rural Sciences and Food Systems, University of Malta, 2080 Msida, MSD, Malta)

  • Clayton Sammut

    (Institute of Earth Systems, Division of Rural Sciences and Food Systems, University of Malta, 2080 Msida, MSD, Malta)

  • Saverio Pandolfi

    (Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, 06128 Perugia, Italy)

  • Emanuele Lilli

    (Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, 06128 Perugia, Italy)

  • Marina Bufacchi

    (Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean, National Research Council, 06128 Perugia, Italy)

  • Vitale Stanzione

    (Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean, National Research Council, 06128 Perugia, Italy)

  • Valentina Passeri

    (Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean, National Research Council, 06128 Perugia, Italy)

  • Luciana Baldoni

    (Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, 06128 Perugia, Italy)

  • Roberto Mariotti

    (Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, 06128 Perugia, Italy)

  • Soraya Mousavi

    (Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, 06128 Perugia, Italy)

Abstract

A comprehensive effort was devoted to exploring, collecting and characterizing the local Maltese olive germplasm, often represented by ancient, monumental trees and by plants of uncertain origin. SSR and cp-SSR analysis of all samples enabled the identification of 46 genotypes and establishment of the correspondence between ancient trees, main local varieties and other Mediterranean cultivars. The application of plastid markers enabled identification of two lineages among Maltese genotypes, with more than 50% represented by lineage E2. Twenty-nine cases of grafting were identified among the various genotypes and lineages. In most cases, E1 canopies were grafted on E2 rootstocks, but reverse cases were also observed. The phylogenetic study of Maltese genotypes, together with hundreds of cultivars from the Mediterranean Basin and beyond, highlights the richness of Maltese olive diversity and drawing attention to the genetic similarity of some Maltese olive genotypes with neighboring Italian and Algerian varieties. These results underline the long-lasting presence of the olive in the country, contributing to the reconstruction of its phylogeny and demonstrating a possible autochthonous origin of many samples. Some still-living ancient trees are at serious risk of extinction due to abandonment, urban expansion and environmental threats. This study supports the preservation of the Maltese olive germplasm and highlights its importance as a rich genetic source to face new agronomical challenges and future climatic constraints.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Cristina Valeri & David Mifsud & Clayton Sammut & Saverio Pandolfi & Emanuele Lilli & Marina Bufacchi & Vitale Stanzione & Valentina Passeri & Luciana Baldoni & Roberto Mariotti & Soraya Mousavi, 2022. "Exploring Olive Genetic Diversity in the Maltese Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10684-:d:899336
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/17/10684/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/17/10684/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rosario Schicchi & Claudia Speciale & Filippo Amato & Giuseppe Bazan & Giuseppe Di Noto & Pasquale Marino & Pippo Ricciardo & Anna Geraci, 2021. "The Monumental Olive Trees as Biocultural Heritage of Mediterranean Landscapes: The Case Study of Sicily," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jordan Palli & Michele Baliva & Franco Biondi & Lucio Calcagnile & Domenico Cerbino & Marisa D’Elia & Rosario Muleo & Aldo Schettino & Gianluca Quarta & Nicola Sassone & Francesco Solano & Pietro Zien, 2023. "The Longevity of Fruit Trees in Basilicata (Southern Italy): Implications for Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Giuseppe Bazan & Angelo Castrorao Barba, 2022. "Historical Ecology, Archaeology and Biocultural Landscapes: Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to the Long Anthropocene," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-4, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10684-:d:899336. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.