About this Research Topic
Olive is one of the most iconic trees of the Mediterranean Basin, with remarkable implications from an economic and ecological point of view. The principal purpose of olive cultivation is the production of olive oil, whose demand has grown incredibly in the last decades due to its high nutritional value and demonstrated health benefits. Despite the attempt to increase olive production through modern intensive orchards, olive cultivation is affected by climate change and emerging olive diseases, such as the olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS). Therefore, the search for new and unexplored sources of olive genetic diversity is becoming increasingly important.
The aim of this Research Topic is to explore the genetic diversity existing in collections of olive trees distributed in the Mediterranean area and useful to be exploited in breeding programs. Authors are welcome to submit articles related to genetic diversity studies performed on different subspecies of olive (Olea europaea L.), collected in various sites of the Mediterranean Basin, through the use of the most diverse genotyping approaches, including the traditional methods (e.g. molecular markers-based studies) and the most recent techniques, such those based on Next Generation Sequencing (GBS, GWAS, QTL mapping). Studies related to the investigation of genomic regions associated with traits of interest and useful for the design of olive breeding programs are also welcome.
Subtopics of interest include (but are not limited to):
- Investigation of the genetic relationships existing among subspecies collected in different sites;
- Study of the genetic variability existing in populations found in unexplored areas;
- Identification of new sources of genetic variability potentially exploitable in breeding programs;
- Description of the mechanisms underlying the gene flow existing between cultivated and wild olive trees;
- Study of traits of interest and identification of the genomic region associated;
- Investigation of the genomic regions that could be used to accelerate breeding programs.
The aim of this Research Topic is to explore the genetic diversity existing in collections of olive trees distributed in the Mediterranean area and useful to be exploited in breeding programs. Authors are welcome to submit articles related to genetic diversity studies performed on different subspecies of olive (Olea europaea L.), collected in various sites of the Mediterranean Basin, through the use of the most diverse genotyping approaches, including the traditional methods (e.g. molecular markers-based studies) and the most recent techniques, such those based on Next Generation Sequencing (GBS, GWAS, QTL mapping). Studies related to the investigation of genomic regions associated with traits of interest and useful for the design of olive breeding programs are also welcome.
Subtopics of interest include (but are not limited to):
- Investigation of the genetic relationships existing among subspecies collected in different sites;
- Study of the genetic variability existing in populations found in unexplored areas;
- Identification of new sources of genetic variability potentially exploitable in breeding programs;
- Description of the mechanisms underlying the gene flow existing between cultivated and wild olive trees;
- Study of traits of interest and identification of the genomic region associated;
- Investigation of the genomic regions that could be used to accelerate breeding programs.
Keywords: breeding, GWAS, Olive, genetic diversity, Mediterranean Basin, molecular markers, NGS, GBS
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
