Investigation of genetic diversity in olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars and types using isozyme analysis

Olive (Olea europaea L.) shoot tip extracts were analyzed by starch gel electrophoresis for isozymes of Malate dehydrogenase (MDH), Alcohol deshydrogenase (ADH), Isocitrate deshydrogenase (IDH), Phosphogluco mutase (PGM), Phosphogluco isomerase (PGI) and Peroxidase (PRX). Total loci, number of alleles and genetical distances were determined in 43 olive genotypes (29 local and introduced cultivars, 5 'Gemlik' types, 3 'Ayvalik" types, 1 'Memecik' type and 5 olive seedlings of 'Uslu' cultivar). High level isoenzymatic variation was detected in olive genotypes and total 23 alleles were determined at 7 loci which belong to the isozyme systems evaluated. The genotypes divided into 7 groups for MDH, 2 groups for ADH, 7 groups for IDH, 5 groups for PGM, 7 groups for PGI and 3 groups for PRX profiles. The genetic distance was the highest between 'Egriburun' and 'Manzanilia' while it was the lowest between 'Tavsan Yuregi' and 'Memecik' cultivars.