Analysis of Leaf Characteristics and Content of Total Flavonoids among Varieties of Olea europaea L.

Abstract:

In order to understand the differences in leaf characteristics and total flavonoids content among Olea europaea varieties,the leaf characteristics and content of total flavonoids in ten varieties grown in Qingchuan County,Sichuan were determined.The results showed that there were significant differences in leaf characteristics among varieties,and there were significant correlations among leaf characteristics.The leaf area of ‘Zhongshan 24’ was the largest among varieties,and the smallest in ‘Picholine’.The variation coefficient of leaf perimeter was the highest among leaf characteristics,and the lowest in leaf area.The variation coefficient were the largest in leaf area for ‘E'zhi 8’,leaf width for ‘Leccion’,leaf ratio of length to width for ‘Manzalia’,and leaf shape coefficient for ‘Empetry’.The variation coefficient in leaf characteristics of ‘Picholine’ was lower than other varieties.The six leaf characteristics in Olea europaea could be simplified into two representative traits,such as shape coefficient and leaf length.There was significant difference in content of total flavonoids among varieties.The content of total flavonoids in autumn shoots was higher than that in spring shoots,ranged from 0.07 to 3.39 mg g^-1.The content of total flavonoids in ‘Picholine’,‘Arebiqunia’,‘Zhongshan 24’ and ‘Kalinjot’ had significant difference between spring shoots and autumn shoots,while it had litter difference in ‘Frantoio’.The content of total flavonoids in spring shoots and autumn shoots of ‘E’zhi 8’ and ‘Coratina’ were higher than other varieties,and that in autumn shoots of ‘Picholine’ was higher than that in spring shoots.The content of total flavonoids was the lowest in spring shoots of ‘Kalinjot’ with 3.02 mg g^-1 and in autumn shoots of ‘Arbequina’ with 2.64 mg g^-1.There were significant or very significant of positive or negative correlations between total flavonoids and leaf characteristics in ‘Coratina’,‘Zhongshan 24’,‘Empetry’ and ‘E;Zhi 8’.So,it was suggested that the content of total flavonoids was influenced by growth of leaf.