[ES] Los microsatélites son marcadores moleculares ampliamente utilizados en estudios de biodiversidad, siendo particularmente útiles en la identificación varietal. Otra de las aplicaciones más recientes de los microsatélites se halla en el campo de la agroalimentación, siendo una herramienta útil en el desarrollo de sistemas de trazabilidad y autentificación. La comparación de secuencias y genomas (genómica comparativa) ha permitido recientemente desarrollar nuevas herramientas como los polimorfismos de un solo nucleótido (SNP; del inglés, “Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms”) e inserciones/deleciones (del inglés, “indels”), que completan la cobertura genómica de los microsatélites. Los principales objetivos de esta tesis son el uso y evaluación de: i) marcadores microsatélite basados en secuencias nucleares, como herramientas en el estudio y caracterización de la agrodiversidad, en especies olvidadas e infrautilizadas (cultivos prometedores), como la higuera; y ii) marcadores microsatélite e inserciones/deleciones basados en la comparación de genomas de cloroplastos de olivo, para la identificación varietal y la aplicabilidad de ellos a la trazabilidad de los aceites de oliva de distintas variedades. Los resultados han demostrado que se trata de herramientas eficaces en la caracterización de este germoplasma local, poniendo de manifiesto la gran variabilidad que éste alberga. Todo ello ha permitido identificar variedades de olivo, tanto a partir de hoja como de aceite. Algunos de los haplotipos identificados pueden ser empleados en la trazabilidad del aceite de oliva.

[EN] Microsatellites are molecular markers widely used for biodiversity studies, being particularly useful in varietal identification. A more recent application of these markers is in the agrifood field, being a suitable tool for the development of authentication and traceability systems. Comparisons of sequences and genomes (comparative genomics) have recently allowed the development of new tools, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and insertions/deletions (indels), which complete the genomic coverage of microsatellites. The main goals of the present thesis are the use and evaluation of: i) nuclear sequence-based microsatellite markers, as a tool for the study and characterization of the agrodiversity in neglected and underutilized species(promising crops), such as the fig tree; and ii) microsatellite and indel markers, based on comparisons of genome chloroplast of the olive tree, for varietal identification and their application to the traceability of olive oils from different varieties. Nuclear sequence-based microsatellite markers have been selected to evaluate the germplasm agrodiversity in fig tree. The presence of unique alleles has allowed the discrimination amongst local populations. The results have demonstrated that these markers are effective tools in the characterization of this local germplasm, revealing a high level of variability. All this has allowed the identification of olive tree varieties, both from the leaves and from the olive oils. Some haplotypes could be used for olive-oil traceability purposes.

Microsatellites are molecular markers widely used for biodiversity studies, being particularly useful in varietal identification. A more recent application of these markers is in the agrifood field, being a suitable tool for the development of authentication and traceability systems. Comparisons of sequences and genomes (comparative genomics) have recently allowed the development of new tools, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and insertions/deletions (indels), which complete the genomic coverage of microsatellites. The main goals of the present thesis are the use and evaluation of: i) nuclear sequence-based microsatellite markers, as a tool for the study and characterization of the agrodiversity in neglected and underutilized species (promising crops), such as the fig tree; and ii) microsatellite and indel markers, based on comparisons of genome chloroplast of the olive tree, for varietal identification and their application to the traceability of olive oils from different varieties. Nuclear sequence-based microsatellite markers have been selected to evaluate the germplasm agrodiversity in fig tree. The presence of unique alleles has allowed the discrimination amongst local populations. The results have demonstrated that these markers are effective tools in the characterization of this local germplasm, revealing a high level of variability. All this has allowed the identification of olive tree varieties, both from the leaves and from the olive oils. Some haplotypes could be used for olive-oil traceability purposes.

Trabajo realizado en el Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible para optar al grado de Doctor en Biociencias y Ciencias Agroalimentarias.

Peer reviewed