Olive tree named ‘ASKAL’

Abstract

A new and distinct Olea europaea L. olive tree variety named ‘ASKAL’, particularly characterized by a medium-sized tree with vigorous growth, high fruit yield, field resistance to Spilocaea oleagina, mature fruit with average commercial oil content of 23.5% on fresh weight basis under irrigation, a well-balanced fruity-grassy taste, good stability (7.8 h at 1100C), high oleic acid content of about 72% and good polyphenol content (233 mg/kg).

Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Olea europaea L.

Variety denomination: ‘ASKAL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of an olive tree, botanically described as Olea europaea L. of the Oleaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘ASKAL’.

The new Olea europaea ‘ASKAL’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Shimon Lavee, Benjamin Avidan and Yair Manni, in Bet Dagan, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Olea europaea L. variety with a vigorous growth, high fruit yield, resistance to Spilocaea oleagina (peacock eye leaf disease), mature fruit with good eating quality and oil production.

The new Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ originated from a cross made by the inventors in 1990 in Bet Dagan, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Olea europaea L. ‘BARNEA’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is the Olea europaea variety ‘MANZANILLO’ (unpatented). The new Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ was observed and selected from the progeny of the stated cross in 1994 by the inventors in a controlled environment in Bet Dagan, Israel.

Asexual propagation of the new Olea variety by rooting of vegetable cuttings was first performed in the spring of 1995 in Bet Dagan, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual propagation. The new variety propagates true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be characteristics of ‘ASKAL’ which in combination distinguish this olive tree as a new, unique and distinct variety:

• • 1. A Medium-sized tree with vigorous growth habit;
  • 2. High fruit yield;
  • 3. Field resistance to Spilocaea oleagina;
  • 4. Mature fruit with average commercial oil content of 23.5% on fresh weight basis under irrigation; and
  • 5. Well-balanced fruity-grassy taste, good stability (7.8 h at 110° C.), high oleic acid content of about 72% and good polyphenol content (233 mg/kg).

In comparison to the unpatented, parental varieties, Olea europaea L. ‘MANZANILLO’ and ‘BARNEA’, the new Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ differs primarily in the traits listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1
Comparison with parent varieties.
	New	Male Parent	Female Parent
	Variety	‘MANZANILLO’	‘BARNEA’
Trait	‘ASKAL’	(unpatented)	(unpatented)
Trunk diameter	About	About 43 cm	About 45 cm
(measured at 50 cm	43 cm
above ground)
Tree habit	Upright	Spreading	Upright
Tree Height	Up to about	Up to about 4.5 m	Up to about
	4 m		8 m

Of the many commercial varieties known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ is the unpatented, parental variety, Olea europaea L. ‘BARNEA’. In addition to the traits described in the foregoing Table 1, ‘ASKAL’ differs from ‘BARENA’ in the following traits described in Table 2:

TABLE 2
Comparison with a well known commercial variety.
	New Variety	Comparison variety
Trait	‘ASKAL’	‘BARNEA’
Tree type	Semi-dwarf	Normal
Fruit shape	Elliptic	Elongated
Conspicuousness of	Medium	Weak
marbling

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘ASKAL’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical 10-year-old specimen of ‘ASKAL’ exhibiting its overall appearance.

FIG. 2 shows various close-up views of typical unripe, fully grown fruit of ‘ASKAL’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of typical ripe, fully grown fruit of ‘ASKAL’ and it's flesh.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the olive tree.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe trees of ‘ASKAL’ as grown in the olive farm in Bet Dagan, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice in Israel. Trees of ‘ASKAL’ are planted at a distance of 4×7 meters in sandy red loam soil at an elevation of about 30 meters above sea level. Trees of ‘ASKAL’ are irrigated by drip system (about 4 liters per hour) during the summer. Average annual rainfall is about 550 mm, with an average 350 mm of rainfall in winter (December to February). NPK fertilization (9:3:9.50 ppm) is administered through the drip system. Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is 7.2° C., and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is 30.8° C.

Unless otherwise stated, the detailed botanical description includes observations, measurements and values based on ten-year-old ‘ASKAL’ trees grown in the olive farm in Bet Dagan, Israel from 2004 to 2007. Quantitative data are expressed as an average of measurements taken from 10 parts of trees of ‘ASKAL’. The measurements of any individual tree, or any group of trees, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 1986 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under conditions of full sunlight in Bet Dagan, Israel.

All of the trees of ‘ASKAL’, insofar as they have been observed, have been consistent in all the characteristics described below.

• Classification:
  • • Botanical.—Olea europaea L.
• Parentage:
  • • Female or seed parent.—Olea europaea L. ‘MANZANILLO’ (unpatented).
    • Male or pollen parent.—Olea europaea L. ‘BARNEA’ (unpatented).
• Propagation:
  • • Method.—Rooting of cuttings.
• Growing conditions:
  • • Light intensities.—Full sunlight.
    • Temperature.—Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is 7.2° C., and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is 30.8° C.
    • Fertilization.—NPK fertilization (9:3:9.50 ppm) is administered through the drip system.
    • Growth regulators.—No growth regulators are used.
    • Pruning or trimming requirements.—The olive tree of ‘ASKAL’ as described is grown without training. When the trees are freely grown, the size and the shape assumed by the plants are not typical of Olea europaea L. species.
    • Plant.—Type: semi-dwarf. Growth habit: upright. Vigor: strong. Height: up to about 4 m. Diameter (Spread) of Canopy: about 3 m. Diameter of trunk (at 50 cm height): about 43 cm. Attitude of branches: erect. Density of canopy: dense. Aspect of bark: semi-rough. Bark color: gray RHS 198 A. Lenticels: not visible. Abnormal leaves: present. Shape of abnormal leaves: various.
    • Main branch.—Number of main branches per tree: 4 resulting from pruning. Length: the length of the branch is up to 3 meters. Diameter: about 15 cm. Color: gray RHS 198 D. Angle of main branches with axis of the tree: about 30° . Surface: slightly rough. Lenticels: not visible.
    • One year old shoot.—Shape in cross section: round. Diameter: 5-8 mm. Color: gray RHS 196 A. Surface: smooth. Lenticels: not visible.
    • Fruiting shoot.—Color: light grey. Length of node: short 11-20 mm. Feathers (side branching of shoot): few to medium.
    • Leaves arrangement.—The arrangement of the leaves is typical of Olea europaea L. species (two opposite leaves per each node).
    • Leaf blade.—Size: large. Ratio length/width: small to medium. Length: 58-75 mm. Width : 12-14 mm. Shape: elliptic. Glossiness: absent. Color of upper side: dark green RHS 146 A. Color of lower side: grey-green RHS 148 D. Curvature of longitudinal axis of blade: flat. Twisting: absent. Margin: entire. Undulation of margin: weak. Shape of apex: acute. Shape of base: acute. Upper surface: smooth. Lower surface: smooth. Pubescence of upper side: glabrous. Pubescence of lower side: glabrous. Color of main vein of upper side: dark green RHS 146 B. Color of main vein of lower side: dark green RHS 146 B.
    • Petiole.—Length: 5-6 mm. Diameter: about 1 mm. Color: grey-green RHS 148 D.
    • Inflorescence.—Structure: raceme. Shape: elongated. Branching: strong. Axillary flowers: absent. Size: short, relatively to both parents. Length: varies up to 15 cm. Diameter: varies up to 5 cm. Number of flowers per inflorescence: numerous. Fruits per inflorescence: 1-2.
    • Flower bud.—Shape: obovoid. Size (just before opening): minuscule. Color: light green RHS 145 A. Pubescence: strong. Bud length: about 4 mm. Bud diameter: about 3 mm.
    • Flower.—Diameter: 6-8 mm. Color: white RHS 155 A. Color of pollen: medium yellow RHS 5 B. Fragrance: mild.
    • Corolla segment.—Number per flower: 4. Length: about 3 mm. Width: about 2 mm. Shape: elliptic. Shape of apex: rounded. Base: fused. Margin: entire. Color of upper side: white RHS 155 A. Color of lower side: white RHS 155 A.
    • Calyx lobe.—Number per flower: 4. Shape: funnel. Length: about 1 mm. Width: less then 1 mm. Shape of apex: acute. Base: fused. Margin: entire. Color of upper side: typical. Color of lower side: typical.
    • Pedicel.—Length: 1-2 mm. Diameter: less then 1 mm. Surface: smooth. Color: very light green RHS 145 D.
    • Fruit.—
    • Fruit (drupe).—In the following description, Position A refers to the position in which the fruit shows its largest asymmetry. Position B can be reached from position A by turning 90 degrees along the longitudinal axes in a way that presents the most developed part of the fruit to the observer (according to UPOV rules). Maturity when described: ripe for eating. Size: very small to small. Weight: about 2.4 g. Length: 16-21 mm. Diameter: 9-12 mm. Length/diameter ratio: 2. Shape: elliptic. Transversal section shape: circular. Green color: RHS 144 A. Color when physiologically ripe: dark violet RHS 70 A. Color of flash (freshly cut): light green RHS 145 B. Conspicuousness of marbling: medium. Size of mottles: small. Color of mottles: yellow-green RHS 144 C. Symmetry in position A: weakly asymmetric. Symmetry in position B: symmetrical. Position of maximum diameter: central. Shape of apex in position A: pointed. Shape of apex in position B: pointed. Mucron: present. Position of pistil scar: not central. Shape of base in position A: truncate. Shape of base in position B: truncate. Percentage of stone: about 7.5. Pulp/stone ratio: about 5.7. Pulp/stone detachment: free stone. Fruit suture curvature: not relevant. Oil content for fresh matter% - Percentage of oil in mesocarp (Analyzed at 50% black fruit): 23.5. Percentage of dry weight: 50. Production per tree: about 20 kg, 5 years old tree. Oleic acid: About 71%. Polyphenol content: about 233 mg/kg. Organoleptic characteristics: high.
    • Stalk.—Length: 11-21 mm. Thickness: about 1 mm. Color: grey-green RHS 147 C. Width of stalk cavity: narrow, about 4-5 mm. Shape of stalk cavity: circular. Depth of stalk cavity: very shallow to shallow, less then 1 mm. Shape of cross section: circular.
    • Stone.—Shape in position A: elliptic. Shape in position B: elliptic. Symmetry in position A: symmetrical. Symmetry in position B: symmetrical. Shape of cross section: circular. Position of largest cross section: central. Grooving: weak. Distribution of grooves: excluding apex. Number of grooves on basal end: less than 7. Distribution of grooves on basal end: irregular. Shape of distal end in position A: pointed. Shape of distal end in position B: pointed. Mucron: absent. Shape of base in position A: pointed. Shape of base in position B: pointed. Conspicuousness of suture: inconspicuous. Curvature of suture: not relevant. Size: small. Length: 14-15 mm. Diameter: 5-7 mm. Color when dry: beige RHS 165D. Weight: about 0.42 g.
    • Time of flowering.—Mid April in Bet Dagan, Israel.
    • Flowering period.—1-2 weeks in Bet Dagan Israel.
    • Time of ripening (green maturation).—October in Bet Dagan Israel.
    • Period of ripening.—About 4 Weeks in Bet Dagan Israel.
• Resistance to abiotic factors:
  • • Cold.—Observed resistance of down to 0° C. in Bet Dagan, Israel.
• Resistance to parasites:
  • • Spilocaea oleagina.—‘ASKAL’ exhibits resistance.
    • Pseudomonas savastanoi.—‘ASKAL’ has not been tested.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Olea europaea L. olive tree variety named ‘ASKAL’, as illustrated and described herein.