Comparison of different classical and molecular methods for identifying self-incompatibility in two olive cultivars

Abstract

Aim of study: To determine compatibility relationships and select suitable pollinizers for two olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars (‘Amygdalolia’ and ‘Konservalia’). Area of study: The Kazeroun Olive Research Station, Fars, Iran. Material and methods: Emasculated flowers from ‘Amygdalolia’ and ‘Konservalia’ cultivars were treated with self-pollination, open-pollination, and cross-pollination with pollen from cultivars such as ‘Dacal’, ‘Amygdalolia’,‘Konservalia’, ‘Koroniki’, and ‘Manzanilla’. Controlled pollination, pollen tube growth, and molecular analysis were employed. Main results: Controlled pollination, pollen tube growth, and molecular analysis showed that cross-pollination was beneficial for ‘Amygdalolia’ compared to self-pollination. The results showed that this cultivar is self-incompatible, and its best pollinator is the ‘Dacal’ cultivar. Experiment results indicated that ‘Konservalia’ behaves as a self-compatible cultivar. The highest fruit percentage and higher pollen tube growth rates were found in self-pollination treatments. Molecular attempts to isolate candidates for sporophytic self-incompatibility (SSI) led the researchers to analyze the expression of SRK and SLG genes. Research highlights: The results indicated an antagonist transcriptional expression pattern in the flowers of ‘Amygdalolia’, classified as a self-incompatible cultivar, and ‘Konservalia’, classified as a self-compatible cultivar, for the SRK and SLG genes.