Determination of Pollinators for ‘Tavşan Yüreği’ Olive Variety

This study aimed to determine the self-fertility status of 'Tavşan Yüreği' olive variety and to identify suitable pollinator varieties. In this study, controlled pollination applications were carried out with ‘Erkence’, ‘Gemlik’, ‘Memecik’ and ‘Uslu’ olive varieties, and self-pollination and open pollination applications were performed to determine the self-fertility status of the variety. As a result of controlled pollination applications, ‘Uslu’ olive variety achieved the highest fruit set rates of 3.14% and 3.09% in both years. ‘Gemlik’ and ‘Memecik’ olive varieties, in both years, achieved adequate fruit set rates of 2.17-2.87% and 2.85-2.25% respectively, placing them in the good pollinator category. In self-pollination applications, fruit set rates obtained were determined to be in self-incompatibility category according to ‘relative fertility index’ category for the ‘Tavşan Yüreği’ olive variety. These results indicate that in orchards planted with the ‘Tavşan Yüreği’ olive variety, due to the variety's self-incompatibility, the ‘Uslu’, ‘Gemlik’, and ‘Memecik’ olive varieties should be included as pollinator varieties at a rate of 10%, in that order of priority. Pollen viability and germination tests were performed by using 2,3,5 Triphenyl Tetrazolium Chloride (TTC) and agar in petri (15% sucrose + 1% agar + 100 ppm H3BO3) methods in the study. Although pollen viability and germination rates varied depending on the year and variety, they were found to be at a sufficient level for fertilization and fruit set.