Advances in the study of wild olive genetic resources

A study of the wild olive (Olea europaea L. var. oleaster Hoff. et Lk.) genetic resources widely spread in Sardinia was carried out to evaluate their potential use for cultivated olive breeding. General morphological and ecological observations of 74 mother plants were performed in situ. The following biometrical characters were determined on shoot samples: fruit-bearing shoot and internode length; number of inflorescences and fruit per shoot; number of secondary ramifications and small leaves per inflorescence; and inflorescence, leaf, fruit and seed size. Rooting ability of softwood cuttings and in vitro seed germinability were also evaluated. High variability for many of the studied traits was observed, which represents a good availability of genetic resources for breeding.