Identifying the Optimal Pollinizer for ‘Dermlali’ Olive Cultivar under Syrian Coast Conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT The research was conducted in the 2017 and 2019 seasons in two different orchards (Bouka and Sarabion), province of Latakia, Syria, in order to identify the optimal pollinizer for ‘Dermlali’ olive cultivar. Fruit set with/without emasculation of flowers after self-, open-, and cross-pollination was studied. ‘Khoderi,’ ‘Picholine Languedoc,’, and ‘Frantoio’ were used as pollinizers in Bouka, while ‘Picholine Languedoc’ and ‘Khoderi’ were used in Sarabion. Pistil abortion and the average number of flowers per inflorescence were also studied. Results showed that ‘Dermlali’ was characterized by a low number of flowers per inflorescence (12.6–11.4 in Bouka and 11.1–9.4 flower/inflorescence in Sarabion in 2017 and 2019, respectively), and low pistil abortion percentage (10.3–19.6% as an average of the 2017 and 2019 seasons in Bouka, and Sarabion, respectively). ‘Dermlali’ was highly self-incompatible in Bouka (ISI = 0–0.06), but partially self-incompatible in Sarabion (ISI = 0.42–0.50). In both study orchards, the highest final fruit set of ‘Dermlali’ was observed after cross-pollination with ‘Picholine Languedoc.’ Significantly lower final fruit sets of ‘Dermlali’ were observed after cross-pollination with ‘Frantoio’ in both orchards. Based on the recent-discovered diallelic self-incompatibility system in olive and compatibility relationships of ‘Dermlali’ (♀) with ‘Picholine Languedoc’ and ‘Frantoio,’ the S-genotype of ‘Dermlali’ would be S1S1. Overall results suggest that planting ‘Picholine Languedoc’ as pollinizer in ‘Dermlali’ olive orchards could significantly improve fruit set and yield.