The team of genetics from Spain decided to decode the olive tree genome completely. Such an information will help a lot to biologists in protection the tree of viruses nd infections. The olive tree is the most emblematic one in Mediterranian, that’s why knowing its genome is an extremely important not for science only, but in region’s economic too. The results of research published in the journal GigaScience.
The olive tree genome up to now was unknown, but Spain genetics from the Centre for Genomic Regulation (Barcelona), the Real Jardin Botánico and the Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico were sequencing the complete genome of this emblematic tree for the first time ever. The science wants to know every genetic factor, which could help to protect the olive tree from the infections, and the most common ones are the attacks of bacteria and fungi.
The genome regulates differences among sizes and flavor of the olives, as well ability to adapt to the different soils. As noted Toni Gabaldón:
“Knowing the genetic information of the olive tree will let us contribute to the improvement of oil and olive production, of major relevance to the Spanish economy.”
An information, which decoded in DNA of olive trees from different countries, will tell researchers many secrets, e.g. best approaches in an adaptation of this tree to very diverse environmental conditions.
