Observation of eight ancient olive trees (Olea europaea L.) growing in the Garden of Gethsemane.
For thousands of years, olive trees (Olea europaea L.) have been a significant presence and a symbol in the Garden of Gethsemane, a place located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, remembered for the agony of Jesus Christ before his arrest. This investigation comprises the first morphological and genetic characterization of eight olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane. Pomological traits, morphometric, and ultrastructural observations as well as SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) analysis were performed to identify the olive trees. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate their morphological variability. The study revealed a low morphological variability and minimal dissimilarity among the olive trees. According to molecular analysis, these trees showed the same allelic profile at all microsatellite loci analyzed. Combining the results of the different analyses carried out in the frame of the present work, we could conclude that the eight olive trees of the Gethsemane Garden have been propagated from a single genotype.
Trees and Timber Institute, IVALSA, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
Raffaella
R
Petruccelli
Electron Microscopy Centre "Laura Bonzi" (Ce.M.E.), ICCOM, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: giordano@ceme.fi.cnr.it.
Cristiana
C
Giordano
Electron Microscopy Centre "Laura Bonzi" (Ce.M.E.), ICCOM, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
Maria Cristina
MC
Salvatici
Electron Microscopy Centre "Laura Bonzi" (Ce.M.E.), ICCOM, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
Laura
L
Capozzoli
Institute of Applied Physics "Nello Carrara", IFAC, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
Leonardo
L
Ciaccheri
Studium Biblicum Franciscanum Flagellation Monastery, Via Dolorosa PO Box 19424 IL, 9119301 Jerusalem, Israel.
Massimo
M
Pazzini
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DISA), University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 208, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Orietta
O
Lain
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (DISA), University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 208, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Raffaele
R
Testolin
Trees and Timber Institute, IVALSA, CNR, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
Antonio
A
Cimato
D000483:Alleles; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005638:Fruit / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007557:Israel; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D031658:Olea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011058:Pollen / Q000648:ultrastructure
D018744:DNA, Plant
Garden of Gethsemane; Molecular markers; Olea europaea L.; Phenotype; SSR conservation