30 CULTIVAR ANALYSIS AND PROSPECTIVE STUDIES No. 35 Olive groves and olive oil early bearing (from the third year onwards). It has high productivity, with an olive oil yield of around 24 per cent. The fruits, which are with Main olive varieties Unlike other olive oilproducing countries, the varietal profile of olives in Morocco is characterised by its limited diversity. Indeed, the olive-growing landscape is dominated almost exclusively by the variety Picholine Marocaine … the olive-growing landscape is dominated almost exclusively by the Picholine Marocaine variety, which accounts for 90 per cent of all olive trees. flesh that is easily separated from the stone, are suitable both for olive oil extraction and for the preparation of green or black olives. It is highly resistant to olive knot. Haouzia A variety derived from the Picholine Marocaine, characterised by moderate flowering, early bearing variety, which accounts for 90 per cent of all olive trees. The remaining 10 per cent consists of varieties resulting from clonal selection within this same variety, namely Haouzia and Menara, and some foreign varieties (Picual, Frantoio, Manzanilla, Gordal Sevillana, Arbequina, Koroneiki, etc.). This is due to the widespread adoption of the Picholine Marocaine by producers, owing to its advantages, such as dual use (for olive oil and table olives), fruit quality and its adaptation to local conditions. Moroccan Picholine The Moroccan Picholine, well adapted to the agroclimatic conditions of Morocco and prized for its dual use (olive oil and fresh consumption), remains, however, susceptible to certain diseases and exhibits a high rate of alternate bearing (good and poor harvests), which can affect the regularity of production. Menara A variety derived from the Moroccan Picholine, characterised by a greater suitability for propagation by cuttings, an average flowering period and an and a strong ability to propagate via Haouzia variety cuttings. Hardy and with great rooting capacity; it begins to produce from the third year onwards in irrigated soil. Highly productive, albeit with yield fluctuations, it yields an olive oil yield of around 23 per cent and is also suitable for the production of green olives. Resistant to peacock spot (Spilocaea oleaginea), tolerant to olive knot and drought. The Moroccan National Institute for Agronomic Research has developed five new varieties by crossing Moroccan varieties (Menara, Haouzia and M26) with foreign varieties. The selection criteria used were productivity, oil content and oleic acid composition, the vigour of the trees, their fertility and the consistency of their yield. These five varieties are listed in the relevant official catalogue and are currently being propagated by nursery growers with a view to their distribution to farmers. The varieties are: Baraka (M26 × Picholine de Languedoc), Mechkate (M26 × Manzanille), Agdal (M26 × Manzanille), Tassaoute (Menara × Leccino) and Dalia (Menara × Arbequina). Three of these – namely Tassaoute, Dalia and Mechkate – are of particular interest to producers, due to their resilience in the face of climate change, as well Picholine Marocaine variety
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