'Khoderi' Olive Cultivar as an Efficient Polliniser for Some French and Italian Olive Cultivars

Abstract

The research was conducted in 2017 and 2019 seasons in Bouka center for research and plant production, Latakia, Syria, in order to investigate the ability of using Syrian olive cultivar 'Khoderi' as polliniser for 'Tanche',' Picholine' (French) and 'Frantoio' (Italian) olive cultivars. Pistil abortion (%), pollen germination (%), flowering period, self, open and cross-pollination with 'Khoderi' were studied. Results showed that all cultivars were characterized by good pollen germination ratio. Both season and cultivar affected pistil abortion significantly. The flowering periods were overlapping for all studied cultivars but with some delay of 'Frantoio'. 'Picholine' was highly self-incompatible (ISI= 0.11), while 'Tanche' was partially self-incompatible (0.33-0.35). The highest self-compatibility was for 'Frantoio' (ISI= 0.52-0.73). Pollination results showed that using 'Khoderi' as polliniser increased final fruit set over open-and selfpollination for all cultivars and seasons. The results indicated that 'Khoderi' was efficient polliniser for 'Tanche', 'Picholine' and 'Frantoio' olive cultivars under Syrian Coast conditions.