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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Crop and Product Physiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1519402
This article is part of the Research Topic Olive Science View all 18 articles

First note of QTL mapping of low vigour traits using the updated F2 'Koroneiki' linkage map of olive

Provisionally accepted
Irene Granata Irene Granata 1Aparna S Balan Aparna S Balan 1,2Claudio Di Vaio Claudio Di Vaio 3Antonino Ioppolo Antonino Ioppolo 1Tiziano Caruso Tiziano Caruso 1SILVIA FRETTO SILVIA FRETTO 1Jubina Benny Jubina Benny 1Antonio Giovino Antonio Giovino 4Daniel James Sargent Daniel James Sargent 5Francesco Paolo Marra Francesco Paolo Marra 1*Annalisa Marchese Annalisa Marchese 1*
  • 1 Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
  • 2 Scitel Scientific Solutions Private Limited, Kayamkulam, Kerala, India
  • 3 Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100,, 80055 Portici, Italy
  • 4 Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) - Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Palermo, Italy
  • 5 Department of Plant Genetics, NIAB, 93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge, CB3 0LE, United Kingdom

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The olive tree (Olea europaea L.), which characterizes the agriculture of the Mediterranean basin, faces challenges adapting to high-density orchards and mechanized cultivation. This study addresses a key issue: controlling tree size to enhance efficiency and manageability in olive cultivation. Utilizing genetic mapping methods, we have identified significant Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) and candidate genes associated with low-vigor traits in olive trees. Our research on the 'Koroneiki' F2 progeny, which exhibits low vigor traits but remains underutilized in breeding programs, has pinpointed a QTL linked to trunk basal diameter—a trait correlated with plant height based on morphological measurements. Results underscore a strong genetic control of these traits, with a consistent correlation observed over time. We identified two candidate genes — Acid Phosphatase 1, Shikimate O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase, and a SNP Marker likely associated with Calcium Responsive Proteins — each potentially interacting with plant hormones to influence growth. Controlling olive tree size presents several challenges, including the genetic complexity of polygenic traits like size and vigour, and limited rootstock options. By integrating reference genomes with our genetic analysis, we offer a conceptual advancement that could substantially accelerate breeding timelines compared to traditional approaches. Although genome editing is still a future possibility due to the complexity of olive genetics and the species' recalcitrance to transformation, our study lays a foundational understanding to guide future breeding programs. By targeting the identified candidate genes, this research represents a pivotal step toward selecting new low-vigor genotypes and rootstocks, contributing to innovations in olive cultivation.

    Keywords: Olea europaea, QTL linkage map, F2 progeny, Plant height, low-vigour, brachitic dwarf phenotype

    Received: 29 Oct 2024; Accepted: 13 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Granata, S Balan, Di Vaio, Ioppolo, Caruso, FRETTO, Benny, Giovino, Sargent, Marra and Marchese. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Francesco Paolo Marra, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
    Annalisa Marchese, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.