Elucidation of the Origin of the Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves in Crete, Greece
The olive tree of Vouves in Crete, is considered the oldest producing olive tree in the world with an estimated age exceeding 4000 years. In the present study, we sequenced two samples (from the bottom and the top of the tree) to elucidate the genetic relation of this ancient tree with other olive c...
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2374 |
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| author | Aureliano Bombarely Andreas G. Doulis Katerina K. Lambrou Christos Zioutis Evi Margaritis Georgios Koubouris |
| author_facet | Aureliano Bombarely Andreas G. Doulis Katerina K. Lambrou Christos Zioutis Evi Margaritis Georgios Koubouris |
| author_sort | Aureliano Bombarely |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The olive tree of Vouves in Crete, is considered the oldest producing olive tree in the world with an estimated age exceeding 4000 years. In the present study, we sequenced two samples (from the bottom and the top of the tree) to elucidate the genetic relation of this ancient tree with other olive cvs as well as to gain some insights about its origin. Our results showed that both samples have different genetic origins, proving that this ancient tree has been grafted at least one time. On the basis of whole genome sequences the sample from the top of the Vouves tree showed relation of the same order than half-siblings to one accession corresponding to the present-day Greek cv ‘Mastoidis’. Nevertheless, in the framework of a microsatellite analysis it was found to cluster with the ‘Mastoidis’ samples. The Vouves rootstock (bottom sample) showed a clear grouping with the oleaster samples in a similar way to that of ‘Megaritiki’ Greek cv although it does not show any signal of introgression from them. The genomic analyses did not show a strong relation of this sample with the present-day Greek cvs analyzed in this study so it cannot be proved that it has been used as a source for cultivated olive tree populations represented by available genome sequences. Nevertheless, on the basis of microsatellite analyses, the Vouves rootstock showed affinity with two present-day Greek cvs, one “ancient” rootstock from continental Greece as well as monumental trees from Cyprus. The analysis of the impact of the variants in the gene space revealed an enrichment of genes associated to pathways related with carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. This is in agreement with what has been found before in the sweep regions related with the process of domestication. The absence of oleaster gene flow, its old age and its variant profile, similar to other cultivated populations, makes it an excellent reference point for domestication studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:07:56Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:07:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-a68fac6f001349e58743b346cea1e0302023-11-23T01:04:37ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-11-011011237410.3390/plants10112374Elucidation of the Origin of the Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves in Crete, GreeceAureliano Bombarely0Andreas G. Doulis1Katerina K. Lambrou2Christos Zioutis3Evi Margaritis4Georgios Koubouris5Department of Bioscience, Universita degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyHellenic Agricultural Organization (ELGO) DIMITRA, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, 73134 Chania, GreeceHellenic Agricultural Organization (ELGO) DIMITRA, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, 73134 Chania, GreeceHellenic Agricultural Organization (ELGO) DIMITRA, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, 73134 Chania, GreeceScience and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC), The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia 2121, CyprusHellenic Agricultural Organization (ELGO) DIMITRA, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, 73134 Chania, GreeceThe olive tree of Vouves in Crete, is considered the oldest producing olive tree in the world with an estimated age exceeding 4000 years. In the present study, we sequenced two samples (from the bottom and the top of the tree) to elucidate the genetic relation of this ancient tree with other olive cvs as well as to gain some insights about its origin. Our results showed that both samples have different genetic origins, proving that this ancient tree has been grafted at least one time. On the basis of whole genome sequences the sample from the top of the Vouves tree showed relation of the same order than half-siblings to one accession corresponding to the present-day Greek cv ‘Mastoidis’. Nevertheless, in the framework of a microsatellite analysis it was found to cluster with the ‘Mastoidis’ samples. The Vouves rootstock (bottom sample) showed a clear grouping with the oleaster samples in a similar way to that of ‘Megaritiki’ Greek cv although it does not show any signal of introgression from them. The genomic analyses did not show a strong relation of this sample with the present-day Greek cvs analyzed in this study so it cannot be proved that it has been used as a source for cultivated olive tree populations represented by available genome sequences. Nevertheless, on the basis of microsatellite analyses, the Vouves rootstock showed affinity with two present-day Greek cvs, one “ancient” rootstock from continental Greece as well as monumental trees from Cyprus. The analysis of the impact of the variants in the gene space revealed an enrichment of genes associated to pathways related with carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. This is in agreement with what has been found before in the sweep regions related with the process of domestication. The absence of oleaster gene flow, its old age and its variant profile, similar to other cultivated populations, makes it an excellent reference point for domestication studies.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2374<i>Olea europaea</i>whole genome DNA resequencingIlluminaRNA-Seqgene space comparison |
| spellingShingle | Aureliano Bombarely Andreas G. Doulis Katerina K. Lambrou Christos Zioutis Evi Margaritis Georgios Koubouris Elucidation of the Origin of the Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves in Crete, Greece Plants <i>Olea europaea</i> whole genome DNA resequencing Illumina RNA-Seq gene space comparison |
| title | Elucidation of the Origin of the Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves in Crete, Greece |
| title_full | Elucidation of the Origin of the Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves in Crete, Greece |
| title_fullStr | Elucidation of the Origin of the Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves in Crete, Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elucidation of the Origin of the Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves in Crete, Greece |
| title_short | Elucidation of the Origin of the Monumental Olive Tree of Vouves in Crete, Greece |
| title_sort | elucidation of the origin of the monumental olive tree of vouves in crete greece |
| topic | <i>Olea europaea</i> whole genome DNA resequencing Illumina RNA-Seq gene space comparison |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/11/2374 |
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