Intra-cultivar variability of three major olive cultivars grown in different areas of central-southern Italy and studied using microsatellite markers

A collection of 70 olive samples, originating from diverse areas in central-southern Italy (Abruzzo, Apulia, Calabria, and Umbria) and corresponding to 3 major cultivars denominations (‘Carolea’, ‘Coratina’ and ‘Frantoio’), was genotyped at 10 microsatellite loci. In total, 44 alleles with a mean number of 4.4 alleles per locus were detected. The molecular analysis, allowed the study to show a clear genetic diversity between the three cultivars ‘Carolea’, ‘Coratina’ and ‘Frantoio’ and to state that ‘Carolea’ is a polyclonal cultivar, while ‘Coratina’ and ‘Frantoio’, are probably monoclonal ones. The analysis of intra-varietal polymorphism, through the SSR analysis, proved to be very useful both for varietal identification and for intra-varietal ones. Our work shows that the current designations of olive cultivars fall short of describing the genetic variability among economically important plant material. A thorough investigation of the existing variability will prove of major importance for both management and economic production of olive trees.     

Effect of density on survival,physiological parameters and water quality during pirarucu transportation in open system

The loading density of pirarucu Arapaima gigas transported for 6 hr in open system was assessed on survival, physiological parameters (blood hematocrit, cortisol, lactate and glucose concentrations) and water quality (temperature, pH, ammonia, dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide). No mortality was observed after fish transportation at 80, 120 and 160 kg/m³, although ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations increased and dissolved oxygen decreased. Physiological parameters were not affected by loading density but significant differences were observed between sampling periods (immediately before transport, immediately after transport, 24 and 96 hr after transport), except glucose. Hematocrit values increased with time, whereas lactate concentration decreased. No significant differences were observed in blood cortisol levels before and after transport, but concentration increased gradually for 96 hr after transport. According to the results, 9 kg pirarucu may be transported for up to 6 hr at a loading density of 160 kg/m³.