The use of Biochemical Markers to Distinguish Olive Cultivars

Abstract

Starch gel electrophoresis was employed to elucidate the differences in isozyme banding patterns among 27 Greek cultivars of Olea europaea. Sixteen enzyme systems with at least two different banding patterns were studied. Three cultivars had unique banding patterns not observed in any other cultivar in each of three enzyme systems, five in each of two, and 12 in a single system. For some cultivars a combination of two or more isozyme systems was needed for complete identification. Malic enzyme and esterase were the most effective enzymes for identifying the cultivars; most could be individually distinguished based on the banding patterns of these two systems only. Thin layer chromatography classified the cultivars mainly according to absence or presence of carotenoids. Comments are made on the degree of similarity among the cvs of Olea europaea.