Investigation of pollination and determination of suitable pollinizer for some olive cultivars (Olea europaea L.) in Tarom region conditions

To determine the suitable pollinizer for Mission, Jlot, Verdal de Jéan, Picudo and Cornicabra cultivars, an experiment was carried out at Tarom Olive Research Station from 2013 for three years. With the beginning of growing season, phenology of olive cultivars, the traits related to flower, fruit set and germination percentage of the pollens were recorded. Controlled pollination method was used to determine the suitable pollinizer for olive cultivars. In this method, at least 100 perfect flowers for each pollinizer cultivar were emasculated and enveloped two days before the opening of the flowers. Then pollens of the pollinizer cultivars collected, and transferred to the desired bags. Mean comparison of data showed that Abou-Satl, Cornicabra, Jlot, Kaissy and Picudo cultivars had the most inflorescence per shoots. Jlot, Picudo and Verdal de Jéan cultivars had more flower per inflorescence, respectively. Cornicabra cultivar had a higher percentage of perfect flowers among the studied cultivars. In controlled pollination conditions of Verdal de Jéan cultivar, the cultivars Abou-Satl, Grossane and Picudo were semi-compatible with this cultivar and can be used as suitable pollinizer for Verdal de Jéan. Also, Cornicabra, Jlot and Verdal de Jéan cultivars were semi-compatible with Mission and can be considered as pollinizer for this cultivar. Cornicabra and Verdal de Jéan cultivars were fully compatible with Jlot and were suitable pollinizer for Jlot. In crosses of pollinizer cultivars with Picudo, all cultivars were semi-compatible with this cultivar and were suitable pollinizers for Picudo. Overall, for fruit set of olive cultivars, open pollination has a good results, and in olive orchard establishment programs, two or more compatible cultivars which have and overlapping pollination period, should be planted.