short scientific article UDC 633.852.73:582.931(497.5-Istra) received: 2005-06-07 IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AUTOCHTHONOUS OLIVE VARIETIES IN ISTRIA (CROATIA) Aldo MILOTIČ, Elvino ŠETIČ, Dordano PERŠURIČ, Danijela POLJUHA, Barbara SLADONJA & Kristina BRŠČIČ Institute of Agriculture and Tourism, HR-52440 Poreč, K. Huguesa 8, Croatia E-mail: aldo@iptpo.hr ABSTRACT With the aim of solving the confusion regarding the names of autochthonous olive varieties in Croatian Istria, their inventarization and identification was made. Morphological description of 64 olive trees was performed and samples were clustered in 6 potential variety groups with at least 14 different varieties. Key words: olive, autochthonous varieties, morphological characteristics IDENTIFICAZIONE E CARATTERIZZAZIONE DI VARIETÀ AUTOCTONE DI ULIVI IN ISTRIA (CROAZIA) SINTESI Alio scopo di dissolvere la confusione creatasi in mérito ai nomi delle varieta autoctone di ulivi nell'lstria croata, gli autori hanno preparato l'inventario e l'identificazione di tali specie. L'articolo fornisce una descrizione morfologica di 64 alberi di ulivo. l campioni sono stati divisi in 6 potenziali gruppi con almeno 14 differenti varieta. Parole chiave: ulivo, varieta autoctone, caratteristiche morfologiche INTRODUCTION Olive (Olea europea L.), the species characteristic of the Mediterranean landscape, includes a large number of varieties with significant phenotypic and genetic di-verseness (Ziliotto et al., 2002; Idrissi & Quazzani, 2003). In Croatia, olives are spread in all coastal regions, such as Istria, Kvarner, Dalmatia and their islands. The first historical records regarding olive growing in Istrian region date to the first century BC (Hugues, 1999). According to the latest official statistical data, about 11 % of a total 2,432,653 olive trees in Croatia are cultivated in Istria (Central Croatian Bureau of Statistics, www.dsz.hr). Lately, the traditional extensive olive cultivation methods were replaced with intensive modern growing technology, making olive growing an attractive trend in agriculture. Despite a large biological variability and economic potential, there has been no systematic inventari-zation and description of local olive varieties in Croatian Istria. The first attempt to describe and classify local varieties following his own original system was made by Hugues in 1903 (Hugues, 1999). Zminj _ Vrsar _ Vodnjan _ Vizinada _ Visnjan _ Umag _ Tinjan _ Svetvincenat _ Sveti Petar u Sumi _ Sveti Lovrec _ Sveta Nedelja _ Rovinj _ Rasa _ Pula - Porec _ Pican _ Pazin _ Oprtalj " Novigrad _ Motovun _ Medulin _ Marcana - Lupoglav _ Liznjan _ Lanisce _ Labin - Krsan _ Kastelir - Labinci _ Karojba _ Kanfanar - Groznjan _ Gracisce _ Fazana _ Cerovlje _ Buzet _ Buje _ Brtonigla _ Barban _ Bale - Olive cultivars show a broad range of genetic variability for a large number of agronomic traits/ including oil quality and contend fruit size and degrees of adaptability to environmental conditions. The ability to discriminate olive cultivars and to estimate genetic variability is an important factor for a better management of genetic resources and successful breeding programs. With this aim, we started with a few research projects focused on the most important aspects of olive growing and oil production (Persuric et al., 2004). The project named "Valorisation of autochthonous olive varieties in Istria" comprises identification, characterization, clonal selection and certificated seedlings production. Olive trees are spread along the entire Istrian peninsula (Central Croatian Bureau of Statistics, www.dsz.hr), mostly in coastal zone around the districts of Vodnjan, Poreč, Buje, Brtonigla, Umag, Rovinj and Pula (Fig. 1). The most frequent varieties are traditionally named: buža/ rosulja, bjelica and crnica. In this paper we present the results of a three-year investigation, including morphological descriptions of 64 olive accessions and preliminary variety determination. i ' i =! -1-1- H S D number of fruit-bearing trees □ total number of trees i 0 5.000 10.000 15.000 20.000 25.000 30.000 35.000 Fig. 1: Olive trees distribution in Istrian County. SI. 1: Razširjenost oljk v Istri. Tab. 1: List of analysed morphological characteristics according to International Olive Oil Council (COI). Tab. 1: Seznam analiziranih morfoloških značilnosti po priporočilih Mednarodnega sveta za olivno olje (COI). Analysed morphological characteristics Category LEAF (2 characteristics) Form 1. elliptic 2. elliptic-lanceolate 3. lanceolate Curvature 1. hyponastic 2. flat 3. epinastic 4. helicoidal INFLORESCENCE (2 characteristics) Length 1. short 2. medium 3. long Number of flowers 1. scarce 2. medium 3. high FRUIT (9 characteristics) Shape 1. spherical 2. oval 3. elongated Symmetry 1. symmetrical 2. weakly asymmetric 3. asymmetrical Position of maximum transversal diameter 1. towards base 2. central 3. towards apex Shape of apex 1. pointed 2. rounded Shape of base 1. truncated 2. rounded Mamelon 1. absent 2. weakly present 3. evident Presence of lenticels 1. sparse 2. numerous Dimension of lenticels 1. small 2. large Ripeness start 1. from base 2. uniform 3. from apex ENDOCARP (10 characteristics) Shape 1. spherical 2. oval 3. elliptic 4. elongated Symmetry (position A) 1. symmetrical 2. weakly asymmetric 3. asymmetrical Symmetry (position B) 1. symmetrical 2. weakly asymmetrical Position of maximum transversal diameter 1. towards base 2. central 3. towards apex Apex 1. pointed 2. rounded Base 1. truncated 2. pointed 3. rounded Surface 1. smooth 2. rugose 3. scabrous Number of fibrovascular grooves 1. reduced 2. medium 3. elevated Distribution of fibrovascular grooves 1. uniform 2. grouped around suture Bill of apex 1. without mucro 2. with mucro MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant material was collected in the entire Istrian area, after accurate field observations and study of distribution density on the territory. Chosen accessions represent the old and most valuable cultivars, traditionally named buza, crnica, karbonaca, karbonera, crnica, rosulja, ro-sinjola, rosola, istarska bjelica, belica, bilica, bjankera, domaca, plominka and others. Morphological description was performed on 64 olive trees according to International Olive Oil Council standards (COI, 1997). Altogether, 23 characteristics of leaf (2), inflorescence (2), fruit (9) and stones (10) were measured during three years (Tab. 1). Some characters like inflorescence length and flower number can vary due to exogenous factors (environment, cultivation technology, etc). In case of uncertainty in category defining, measuring was repeated on the larger sample and prevailing category was taken under consideration. The data have been analysed using the STATISTICA 5.0 program. Accessions were grouped by cluster analysis using the Unweighted pair-group method (UPGMA) with the Squared Euclid distance. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Results obtained by morphological description enabled us to partially clarify the actual confusion as to the naming of various varieties. Accessions were grouped in 6 main clusters with different potential varieties (Fig. 2, Tab. 2). The first cluster contained the largest number of samples described as istarska bjelica, bjelica, buza, crna, crnica and plominka. Samples belonging to bilica, crna and crnica were grouped in the second cluster, karbonaca and drobna in the third, belica, karbonera, bilica, crnica and rosinjola in the fourth cluster. One sample was set apart and considered as separate variety named morazo. In the sixth cluster, a few potential varieties, all named duga were grouped. So far, the analyses assumed 14 potential varieties, but considering that there are significant differences even between accessions, it can be expected that the number of varieties could be higher. Appropriate names and main variety characteristics are given in Table 3. Numerous synonyms indicating local varieties that caused present confusion in their naming are not only the consequence of a millennium long olive presence in Istria but also of phenotypic variability between genetically similar individuals, due to environmental conditions. During data processing, problems with similar variety names, homonyms and synonyms have emerged. Despite some very similar local variety names, such as istarska bjelica, bilica, bjelica and belica, they showed different morphologic profiles and were clustered in distinctive groups, supporting our assumption about differ- Accession numbers Potential variety 1-5 Istarska bjelica 6 Non defined 7-10 Bilica 11-12 Duja 13-15 Bélica 16-17 Bjelica 18-21 Buza 22-27 Crna 28-31 Duja 32-33 Buza 34-35 Crnica 36 Buza 37-44 Crnica 45 Karbonera 46-49 Karbonaca 50-52 Crnica 53-54 Drobna 55 Morazo 56 Karbonaca 57-60 Plominka 61-64 Rosinjola 7-10 11-12 13-15 16-17 18-21 22-27 28-31 32-33 34-35 36 37-44 45 46-49 50-52 53-54 55 56 57-60 61-64 Potential variety Istarska bjelica Non defined Bilica DuJa Belica Bjelica Buža Crna DuJa Buža Crnica Buža Crnica Karbonera Karbonaca Crnica Drobna Moražo Karbonaca Plominka Rosinjola ent varieties. The same situation was observed with respect to crnica, crnica, karbonera and karbonaca. Aimed at solving homonym problems with different accessions named buza we left the traditional name only for accessions from the south areas of Istrian County (Vodnjan, Bale), where they are grown mostly in old plantations, and chose new names for homonyms at other localities. On the other hand, some differently named accessions seemed to be synonyms, and were classified under the same name. This inventarization and preliminary classification provided us a base for further research. Subsequent morphological investigations and DNA analyses will additionally clarify the so far reached considerations. Fig. 2: Dendrogram obtained from the selected 23 morphological parameters, UPGMA method with Squared Euclidean distance. Accessions are indicated with numbers from 1 to 64. Sl. 2: Dendrogram, napravljen na osnovi 23 izbranih morfoloških parametrov in metode UPGMA s kvadrirano Evk-lidovo distanco. Oljke so označene s številkami od 1 do 64. Tab. 3: Morphological description of main olive varieties. Tab. 3: Morfološki opis glavnih oljčnih sort. Potential variety Main morphological characteristics Leaf Inflorescence Fruit Stone Bjelica Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: oval and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: uniform Shape: elliptic Max diameter: central Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: rounded Surface: rugose Buža Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: spherical and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: uniform Shape: oval Max diameter: central Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: rounded Surface: scabrous Duga (buža) Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: oval and weakly asymmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: from apex Shape: oval Max diameter: central Shape at apex: pointed Shape of base: rounded Surface: rugose Črna (buža, karbonera, domača, morgaca) Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: oval and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: uniform Shape: oval Max diameter: central Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: pointed Surface: rugose Črnica Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: oval and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: from base Shape: oval Max diameter: towards apex Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: rounded Surface: scabrous Karbonera (crnica) Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: oval and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: uniform Shape: oval Max diameter: central Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: rounded Surface: rugose Drobna Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: spherical and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: from apex Shape: spherical Max diameter: central Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: rounded Surface: scabrous Karbonaca Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: oval and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: from apex Shape: oval Max diameter: central Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: rounded Surface: scabrous Moražo Shape: elliptic Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: spherical and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: uniform Shape: spherical Max diameter: central Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: rounded Surface: rugose Bilica Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: oval and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: from base Shape: elliptic Max diameter: towards apex Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: rounded Surface: scabrous Belica Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: oval and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: from base Shape: oval Max diameter: central Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: rounded Surface: rugose Rosinjola Shape: elliptic Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: oval and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: uniform Shape: elliptic Max diameter: towards apex Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: pointed Surface: scabrous Plominka Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat Number of flowers: scarce Shape: spherical and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: from apex Shape: oval Max diameter: central Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: pointed Surface: rugose Istarska bjelica (bjankera) Shape: elliptic-lanceolate Curvature: flat and helicoidal Number of flowers: scarce Shape: spherical and symmetrical Max diameter: central Ripeness start: uniform Shape: elliptic Max diameter: central Shape at apex: rounded Shape of base: rounded Surface: rugose CONCLUSIONS The carried out research revealed significant biological diversity of olive varieties in Istrian County. The obtained results indicate their large biological and economic potential. Our classification and description constitute the basic elements for the preservation of old olive varieties as important national biological heritage. Further morphological description, confirmed by molecular investigations and additional chemical analyses of oil, will contribute to a better management of genetic resources as well as to registration of founded varieties in national and international databases. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The present paper was prepared within the framework of the project "Valorisation of autochthonous olive varieties in Istria", financed by the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports. Thanks to the great team performing endless measurements: Boris Zigante, Zivka Kovacic, Dario Lindi, Almir Mesic and Robert Tercolo. IDENTIFIKACIJA IN OZNAČBA AVTOHTONIH SORT OLJK V HRVAŠKI ISTRI Aldo MILOTIČ, Elvino ŠETIČ, Dordano PERŠURIČ, Danijela POLJUHA, Barbara SLADONJA & Kristina BRŠČIČ Institut za poljoprivredu i turizam, HR-52440 Poreč, K. Huguesa 8, Hrvatska E-mail: aldo@iptpo.hr POVZETEK Na Istrskem polotoku gojijo različne sorte oljk. Z namenom, da se odpravi zmeda pri imenovanju oljčnih sort v hrvaški Istri, je bila opravljena temeljita inventarizacija in identifikacija teh sort, in sicer v okviru dolgoročnega raziskovalnega projekta, ki se osredotoča na ohranjanje in valorizacijo avtohtonih sort oljk. Avtorji so v zadnjih treh letih napravili morfološki opis 64 oljk in zbrane podatke uporabili v postopku grozdičaste analize. Vzorce so zbrali v 6 potencialnih sortnih skupinah z najmanj 14 različnimi sortami. Nadaljnje raziskave, vključno z morfološkimi in genetskimi analizami, bodo poglobile vpogled v biološko bogastvo oljk, ki doslej še ni bilo raziskano. Ključne besede: oljka, avtohtone sorte, morfološke značilnosti REFERENCES Central Croatian Bureau of Statistics (2003): www.dzs.hr COI (1997): Methodology for primary characterization of olive varieties. Project RESGEN-CT (67/97), EU/COI. Hugues, C. (1999): Maslinarstvo Istre. Elaiografia Istri-ana, CERES, Zagreb. Idrissi, A. & N. Ouazzani (2003): Contribution of morphological descriptors to the inventory and identification of olive (Olea europaea L.) varieties. PGR Newsletter (FAO-IPGRI), 136, 1-10. Peršurič, O., B. Sladonja, A. Milotič, K. Brščič, E. Šetič, A. Ilak Peršurič, D. Gluhič & D. Poljuha (2004): Gospodarska i genetska valorizacija autohtonih populacija vinove loze i maslina u Istri. Sjemenarstvo, 21(5-6), 261-265. Ziliotto, F., G. Barcaccia, L. Baldoni & P. Tonutti (2002): Identificazione e caratterizzazione di alcune cultivar di olivo. L'informatore agrario, 15, 115-118.