Elucidating the genetic diversity in wild olive (Olea europaea L. subps. oleaster) genotypes from the Mesopotamia region with multivariate analyses

Hassa district, located in the Eastern Mediterranean, is within the borders of Mesopotamia and the Levant region. This study evaluated genetic diversity in wild genotypes in this region, where the olive population is relatively high, using morphological, biochemical, and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker techniques. According to the study results, significant differences were detected between genotypes in all morphological parameters examined. The genotype G19 is at the forefront compared to other genotypes regarding fruit characteristics. Biochemical analysis were carried out on fruit samples. Total phenolic content varied between 2.86 and 12.58 mg GAE/100 g. Total flavonoid content varied between 1.88 and 3.48 mg QE/100 g. The antioxidant activity of the genotypes varied between 29.49 and 39.92%. According to principal component analysis, the first three components explain 80.7% of the total variation. In molecular marker analysis, 85 bands were obtained from 7 ISSR primers. Seventy-nine bands were polymorphic, and the polymorphism rate was 92.94%. Because of the molecular analysis, the similarity index in the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) of cluster analysis dendrogram ranged between 0.62 and 0.91. It is thought that the results obtained will guide researchers in identifying and protecting genetic resources in olive.