Study of pollination and compatibility to determine the best pollinizer for olive (olea europaea l.) Cultivar

The present investigation was carried out in Olive Research Station of Roodbar during three consecutive years (1997-1999) in a randomized complete blok design with 6 treatments and 4 replications to determine the best pollinizer for olive cv. Zard. The t10wers of cv. Zard were pollinated artificially by pollens of cultivars Beleidy, Mari, Roughani, Leccino, Manzanilla and Zard (self-pollination) after emasculation. Percentage of initial fruit sets, percentage of final fruit set, index of fertility, index of compatibility and number of flowers in each inflorescence were measured and compared with the results of open pollination. The results indicated significant differences among the pollen genitor cultivars at 1% probability level. The olive cultivar Zard had a partial self incompatibility, which varied by the years. Cultivars Leccino, Zard, Mari, Manzanilla, Beleidy and Roughani were found to be the best pollinizers, respectively, considering their means of final fruit set and index of compatibility in various cultivars.