Unravelling the Genetic Diversity of Oleaster (Elaeagnus Angustifolia L.) with Multivariate Analysis

The oleaster plant is a species used in afforestation of areas not suitable for agriculture due to its resistance to drought, salinity, and alkaline conditions. In addition, different parts of the oleaster plant (leaves, flowers, and fruits) can be used in different ways in the medicine, cosmetics, and food sectors. It can also be used as an ornamental plant due to its herbal appearance and the pleasant scent of oleaster flowers. This study was conducted to determine morphological and biochemical characteristics of oleaster genotypes grown in the Middle Kelkit Valley, Türkiye. A wide variation among oleaster genotypes was observed in the examined traits. Fruit weight ranged from 0.59 to 3.23 g, fruit width from 9.70 to 17.28 mm, fruit length from 15.33 to 25.77 mm, and seed weight from 0.23 to 0.71 g. Among the examined genotypes, the G‑6 genotype exhibited superior characteristics in various pomological aspects compared to other genotypes. The G‑3 genotype had the highest total phenolic and antioxidant content (546.64 mg 100 g−1 and 64.50 mg 100 g−1, respectively). The highest flavonoid (217.31 mg 100 g−1) and anthocyanin (494.46 mg 100 g−1) content was found in the G‑10 genotype. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the examined traits effectively explained the variation among oleaster genotypes. According to the results of the PCA, seven main components accounted for 75.43% of the total variation. A strong positive correlation (0.91***) was found between fruit length and seed length. Similarly, strong positive correlations were observed between fruit weight and seed weight (0.89***), as well as between fruit width (0.84**) and seed width. These genotypes with superior morphological and biochemical contents could be considered valuable genetic materials for the development of new varieties.