Core collections reflecting the diversity of large germplasm collections are valuable tools to conserve and evaluate the genetic resources more effectively. Three strategies using two different search algorithms were trained to develop the most representative nested core collection of the World Olive Germplasm Bank (WOGB) of Cordoba (Spain), the largest and best characterized collection of olive {Olea europaea L.) cultivars worldwide. The original dataset was composed of 378 olive accessions from 21 different countries characterized by 14 microsatellite markers (simple sequence repeats [SSRs]). Each nested core collection included five subsets representing different percentages of the base collection (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30%). The strategy maximizing the alíele coverage implemented in the software Core Hunter was chosen as the best. The five subsets developed by this method captured the maximum number of alíeles showing fewer significant differences in their frequencies with respect to the whole collection. Additionally, a balanced geographical composition was observed in the nested subsets in spite of the strong overrepresentation of western Mediterranean accessions present in the WCGB. The results of this study are aimed at improving both the conservation and management of olive genetic resources and the study of differential genotype x environment interactions by testing a minimum number of accessions CM. Diez, Abbreviations: Ce, Cavalli Sforza and Edwards' distance; Cv, allelic coverage index; CvCe, strategy maximizing the allelic coverage index and Cavalli Sforza and Edwards' distance simultaneously; FCA, factorial component analysis; He, expected heterozygosity; Ho, observed heterozygosity; M strategy, strategy of search used by MSTR AT; PC, principal component; SSR, simple sequence repeat; WOGB, World Olive Germplasm Bank. C LONALLY PROPAGATED FRUIT CULTIVARS are typically conserved ex situ in "live collections," which are suitably selected field plantations where the crop can fulfill its normal biological cycle. Thanks to the increasing attention paid to the protection of biodiversity, several olive {Olea etiropaea L.) germplasm ex situ collections were developed to safeguard and promote the use of genetic resources in farming. These collections ensure the long-term conservation of the genetic resources and provide easy access to plant breeders, researchers, and other users.The olive tree is currently the most extensively cultivated temperate fruit crop in the world (FAO, 2008) and is characterized by an extensive legacy of traditional cultivars (Bartolini et al., 2002;Rallo, 2005). Several collections of genetic resources have been established

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