The Genetic Diversity, Biotechnological Tools, and Phenotypic Trait Variation of Olea europaea L.: Studies to Support Breeding Programs—2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

The olive tree is a representative species of the Mediterranean basin, with its origin now scientifically ascertained; however, its domestication process is still unclear. Knowing the origin and spread of a species is important for acquiring information on its evolutionary process and understanding its genetic variability, a fundamental prerequisite for launching biodiversity conservation and genetic improvement programs. From a genetic point of view, these aspects can be addressed both through the study of polymorphisms at the single-gene level and at the whole-genome level. The sequencing of olive genomes is opening the doors to knowledge of the structure of olive tree DNA, the intensive development of markers that allow a deeper scanning of its genetic diversity, and a better understanding of the biology of the species. Plastid markers are then associated with nuclear ones to better define the processes of genetic differentiation. Furthermore, knowledge of the genomic sequence and its orientation is increasingly fundamental for the development of molecular tools to support breeding programs, such as classical mapping and association studies. Therefore, to ensure valid results with these latest techniques, it becomes essential to phenotype the germplasm and study the genotype-by-environment interaction through morphophenological characterization and physiological response to biotic and abiotic stress.

The last frontier in olive trees is cis-genesis and genome editing, which could allow a faster and more effective evolution of genetic improvement in olive trees through an improvement of vitro culture and regeneration protocols.

Therefore, in this Special Issue, articles on genetic diversity, phylogenesis, population structure, polymorphisms analysis, QTL analysis, association mapping, phenotyping studies, and biotechnological tool development carried out with diversified, conventional, and advanced approaches and techniques, able to provide a concrete contribution for the advancement of olive tree breeding, are welcome. 

Dr. Samanta Zelasco
Dr. Giora Ben-Ari
Guest Editors

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