Investigation of pollen vitality and self productivity in some olive varieties growing in the Mediterranean region

Irregular fruit yield in olives is caused by ecology, cultural processes as well as self-inefficiency, and not choosing suitable pollinators. In this study, some phenological observations, pollen viability of the cultivars and self-fertility as a result of self-anthesis and natural pollination were investigated in the cultivars 'Gemlik', 'Manzanilla', 'Memecik', 'Nizip Yağlık' and 'Tavşan Yüreği' in Akdeniz University Faculty of Agriculture Research and Application Field. In self-pollination, the flowers on the inflorescence were taken into cloth pouches at the balloon stage, the pollen was poured into the pouch at the time of flowering, the pouch mouth was closed with a rope and the pouch was shaken to pollinate. The viability levels of pollen were determined by the 2,3,5 triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) test. Sowing began in early March and flowering was completed in mid-May. Peeling and beginning of flowering, full flowering, and end of flowering were detected at the earliest in 'Gemlik' cultivars, and the latest in 'Nizip Yaglik' and 'Tavşan Yüreği' cultivars. Flowering period lasted for 15 days in 'Gemlik', 10 days in 'Manzanilla' and 'Memecik', 12 days in 'Nizip Yağlık' and 11 days in 'Tavşan Yüreği'. Significant differences were found in fruit set (%) rates obtained in varieties as a result of self-anthesis and natural pollination. In all olive cultivars used in the experiment, the percentage of fruit obtained from self-anthesis was higher than natural pollination. 'Gemlik' and 'Tavsan Yuregi' were found to be self-fertile, 'Memecik' and 'Nizip Yaglik' were found to be partially fertile, and 'Manzanillo' was found to be self-infertile. The highest fruit set in both self and natural pollination was determined in 'Tavsan Yuregi' cultivar. The highest percentage of live and semi-live pollen was observed in 'Manzanilla' and the lowest in the 'Memecik' cultivar.