Full Length Research Paper

RAPD-PCR analysis of cultured type olives in Turkey

Meltem Sesli¹* and E. Dilşat Yeğenoğlu²

¹College of Tobacco Expertise, Turkish Republic, Celal Bayar University 45210, Akhisar, Manisa, Turkey

²Akhisar Vocational College, Turkish Republic, Celal Bayar University 45210, Akhisar, Manisa, Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: meltem.sesli@bayar.edu.tr.  

Tel: (+90) 236 412 68 96. Fax: (+90) 236 413 70 58.

Accepted 3 July, 2009

   Abstract

The aim of this study was to detect genetic similarities and distances among cultured type olive trees by RAPD-PCR technique. Olives are raised in a high range from the Aegean, Mediterranean, Marmara and Black Sea to Southeast Anatolia regions of Turkey. Olive breeding had a rapid increase in Turkey during recent years, among the agricultural products. Finding the genetic relationships between cultured type olives may help to improve genetic resources and our knowledge of their evolutionary background and to determine genetic relationships with wild type relatives. In this study, samples were obtained from the Olive Production Research Institute (Manzanilla, Domat, Gemlik and Memecik) and sapling producers in Manisa, Akhisar (Uslu, Edremit). Genomic DNA’s were extracted from young leaves and PCR was used generate RAPD bands. Sixty random primers obtained from Operon Tech. were tested by RAPD-PCR (OP-A, OP-I, OP-Q). A total of 33 primers among 60 Operon random primers (Kit OP-A, OP-I, OP-Q) yielded clear and firm bands. The electrophoretic patterns of olive samples showed that 159 highly polymorphic loci. Averages of 4.81 scorable bands per primer were determined from RAPD-PCR analysis.

Key words: RAPD, PCR, culture olives.