Preliminary Evaluation of Olive (Olea europaea L.) Cultivars in Northwest and Central of Mexico

Abstract

A strategy to improve productivity in olive orchards is the evaluation of cultivars that respond better to the environmental growing conditions The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the yield potential and oil quality of five olive cultivars (Arbequina, Coratina, Manzanilla, Arbosana and Mission) in two regions of Mexico. The experiment was carried out during two consecutive years 2018 and 2019. At Northwest Region the five olive cultivars were planted in 2013 at a spacing of 10 x 5 m (having 200 trees ha-1) and Central Region olive cultivars were planted in 2013 at spacing of 6 x 6 m (278 trees ha-1) and both locations under drip irrigation systems. The variables evaluated were:  yield, fruit weight, oil content and oil quality (acidity, peroxide value and absorbance K232 and K270). The experiment was analyzed using a randomized complete block design with four replications.  Our results showed high differences between locations, Arbequina was the cultivar with the highest yield at the fifth and sixth years of planting with an average of 48.8 kg tree-1 at Northwest Region and only 15.5 kg tree-1 at Central Region. The cultivar with the highest oil content in the Northwest Region was Manzanilla with an average of 12.3% and the lowest for Arbequina with only 9.3%, while at Central Region the cultivar with the highest oil content was Coratina with 20.2% and the lowest in Manzanilla with 16.1%. Extra virgin olive oil was obtained in all the cultivars in both locations according to chemical analysis. Finally, it is necessary to continue with the evaluation of other varieties with resistance to high temperatures at Northwest Region and resistance to frost at Central Region.