Rio Grande do Sul Feral Olives May Increase the Species Genetic Variability

Abstract

As part of a new wave of expansion in Brazil, olive orchards were planted in a farm later called Cerro dos Olivais (Caçapava do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul) since 2001 to 2006, where frugivorous dark guans have been observed sleeping, resting and eating olive fruit. Olive seedlings were discovered recently under the rows of pines planted close to the mentioned orchards as windbreaks. This in situapparently easy germination suggests that both the passage of the olive endocarps through the birds’ intestines and the environment under the pine trees facilitate the germination of the corresponding seeds. The various cross-pollinations that may take place in those olive orchards among the five cultivars growing there may thus increase the olive genetic variability by means of this local feral population. That may give rise to new cultivars, adapted to the special environment of the area by conserving and characterizing the natural progenies developed in the farm.