Agronomic characterization of olive (Olea europaea. L) progenies issued from controlled crosses in Tunisia

Abstract

Five olive hybrids obtained from the Tunisian variety 'Chemlali Sfax' using controlled crosses to improve the oil acidic composition. The objective of this work is to study the agronomic performance of these hybrids in an irrigated orchard (Sfax, Tunisia). The study of the acidic composition showed that 4 hybrids are characterized by an oleic acid content greater than 69% and a palmitic acid content less than 16%. The study of the agronomic parameters show that the hybrids have good performances at the level of a given character. Two hybrids have a fruit weight > 2 g, a hybrid with high productivity and vigor respectively 37.4 kg/tree and 10.6 m³, and a hybrid with reduced vigor. Thus, 4 hybrids can be proposed for registration for irrigated and intensive cultivation conditions and one hybrid is to be excluded from registration given its oil acidic composition similar to the local reference variety 'Chemlali Sfax'.

Keywords: Olive, hybrids, agronomy parameters, fatty acid Composition