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<pre>I hope that some subscribers may help with some queries I have regarding the
variety Pendolino.
Pendolino is often mentioned as being an important pollinator, espically for
Tuscan varities
A large nursery in Australia has found that, after DNA testing, the variety
they were selling as Pendolino was , in fact, not.
Another nursery contacted who believed they were selling the true
Pendolino(at the moment being tested) mentioned that because of its
sprawling habit it may be difficult to machine havest.

Some questions:-
Do any Australian growers know if the true
Pendolino is available in this country? Incidentally, what of Moraiolo and
Leccino?
Do any growers have experience or evidence of an
increase in fruit set as a result of introducing Pendolino as a pollinator
and with which varieties )?
Is it true that Pendolino's growing habit makes
it difficult to machine havest?
And finally, is it worth having a small number
of Pendolino distributed throughout the grove as pollinators or will a
general mix of similar flowering-time varieties do the same job? It would
seem that there are some very big groves being planted in Australia at the
moment without specific concern for traditional pollinator inclusion.

I would be grateful to learn of anybody's
knowledge or experience before extending my planting programme.


Alan Watt

Tanja Olives



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<pre>I can't comment on the position in Australia, but:

> Is it true that Pendolino's growing habit makes
> it difficult to machine havest?

Pendolino stands out in a grove because of its characteristically
drooping lower branches. These may foul mechanical harvesting
equipment.

> And finally, is it worth having a small number
> of Pendolino distributed throughout the grove as pollinators or will a
> general mix of similar flowering-time varieties do the same job?

The traditional advice is to ensure a good mix of pollinators in any
grove. It is also standard advice that the more varieties in the grove
the better. However, pollination is not a precise science - least of
all in Europe, where olive pollen will be blowing around from many
different varieties at the same time. Whilst this may mean that you
can get away without Pendolino, I would hesitate to recommend it.
Traditional knowledge always has some value...

(I have Pendolinos dotted carefully through my grove).
--
Gareth Renowden, Limestone Hills, New Zealand
Words, olives and truffles
Office +64 (0)3 355 9552 Home +64 (0)3 314 9921
Mobile 025 790 070
"Watch out where the huskies go, and don't you eat that yellow snow"
(FZ)
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<pre>Regarding DNA testing and Pendolino - Contact the Adelaide University or
Susan Sweeney at DPSA in Adelaide.

Pendolino is a general purpose pollinator used in Italy, however there
is so much pollen in the Tuscan air and elswhere in major olive
producing areas that confounds the issue. There have been some
experiments showing production changes the further the pollinator isn
away from the test trees.

As olive varieties in broard terms are classified as either self
fertile, partially self infertile or self infertile then understanding
the fertility of variety is important in unravelling the necessity of
planting pollinators. My advice to growers is to include pendollino (10%
of plantings) every 10th row makes it easier to identify the variety
for harvesting. Also 3-4 varieties should be planted which will provide
a wider window of pollination, as well as providing opportunities for
blending and helping control disease. Some varieties show greater
resistance to disease.

Olives Australia are able to give you a list of varieties where the
mother trees have been DNA tested.

Regarding harvesting, the pendolino is more pendulous and so training is
important so that it can be shaken effectively. It will not be a problem
if tou are using pneumatic rakes.

Stan Kailis

Stan Kailis
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<pre>My thanks to Gareth Renowden, Stan Kailis and especially Michael Burr for
their response to my queries regarding the variety Penillion. Your advice is
much appreciated and is particularly helpful. Such is the virtue of this
discussion group.

Alan Watt

Tanja Olives


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