Olive tree named ‘I 25’

Abstract

The new and distinct variety of olive tree variety ‘I 25’ is provided. The variety can be distinguished by its outstanding features of high oil content, early bearing, and adaptation to hedgerow crop system.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species:

Botanical classification: a. Genus—Olea. b. Species—europaea.

Variety denomination: The new olive tree claimed is of the variety denominated ‘I 25’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 18/445,926 filed Mar. 27, 2024, discloses an olive tree variety named ‘I46’; such application is related inasmuch as it was developed in the same breeding program.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of olive tree, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘I 25’.

Background of the Related Art

Olive oil continues to increase in popularity. Accordingly, there is a continuing need to develop new and improved olive oils to meet the increased demand for use in various food types and in cooking. Many olive varieties are self-sterile. As a result, there is a need for the development of new olive varieties which are self-pollination and produce a high yield of new and improved olive oil for commercialization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of olive tree, which has been given the variety denomination of ‘I 25’. ‘I 25’ is intended for use for oil production.

The new olive tree variety is a selection resulting from open pollination of an olive tree female known as ‘Chiquitita’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,511 P2), the male parent is unknown.

The selection was subsequently evaluated for 11 years at Córdoba, Spain.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by cutting propagation since 2008 at Córdoba, Spain has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the morphological characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

Selection criteria were high oil content, early bearing, and adaptation to hedgerow crop system.

Plants of the new variety differ from plants of the seed parent ‘Chiquitita’ primarily in vigor, with a higher vigor than ‘Chiquitita’; in growth habit, with a spreading growth habit while ‘Chiquitita’ has a drooping growth habit. This new variety stands out for its high production compared to its parent ‘Chiquitita’, around 18% more oil than ‘Chiquitita’. This variety produces fruit with high weight, which are colored dark violet at full maturity.

In comparison to ‘Arbequina’ (unpatented), which is a well-known and widely cultivated olive cultivar within the industry, the new variety exhibits a higher olive production and a lower vigor than ‘Arbequina’. The weight of the fruit of the new variety is medium, while the weight of the fruit of ‘Arbequina’ is low. At full maturity, the fruit of the new variety is dark violet in color, while that of the ‘Arbequina’ is black.

Plants of the new variety differ from the variety described in co-pending application Ser. No. 18/445,926 (for Olive Tree Variety Named ‘I 46’). The new variety differs from ‘I 46’ in its parents. The parents of ‘I 46’ are ‘Arbosana’ x ‘Koroneiki’, which result in ‘I 46’ exhibiting markedly different characteristics. At full maturity, the fruit of the new variety is dark violet in color, while that of ‘I 46’ is black. The shape of the apex of the fruit in the new variety is rounded, while in ‘I 46’ it is acute. In the new variety the rugosity of its stone surface is strong while that of the ‘I 46’ is weak. ‘I 46’ has an earlier ripening than the new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show the typical appearance of the new variety ‘I 25’. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describes the colors of the new plant.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘I 25’, demonstrating stones.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the new variety ‘I 25’, demonstrating behavior when grown in a hedge line.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the new variety ‘I 25’, demonstrating fruit, fruit color, and branching habit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘I 25’. The datum which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 5 years and 8 months of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in Córdoba, Spain. Color notations are in reference to the standard Color Chart is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2015 edition. London, England)

• Classification:
  • • a. Latin name.—Olea europaea L.
    • b. Common name.—Olive tree.
    • c. Variety name.—‘I 25’.
• Parentage:
  • • a. Female parent.—‘Chiquitita’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,511 P2).
    • b. Male parent.—Unknown.

PLANT

• General:
  • • a. Height.—275 cm (average).
    • b. Width.—160 cm (average).
    • c. Growth habit.—Drooping.

ROOTS

• General:
  • • d. Rooting habit.—Normal-Dense.
    • e. Texture.—Fibrous.
    • f. Color designation (young roots).—155A.
    • g. Color designation (old roots).—157A.

STEMS

• General:
  • • h. Branching habit.—Drooping.
    • i. Trunk.—i. Circumference — 11.5 cm. ii. Surface texture — Smooth. iii. Color — 199A.
    • j. Main stems.—i. Quantity — Dependent on the management and pruning. ii. Aspect — Smooth. iii. Strength — Robust. iv. Cross-section — Rounded Small. v. Circumference — 6 cm (diameter) at 50 cm. vi. Surface texture (young stems) — Smooth. vii. Surface texture (mature stems) — Smooth with lenticels. viii. Color designation (young stems) — 157A. ix. Color designation (mature stems) — 157B. x. Lenticels — Many, 1 mm long, 0.5 mm wide. xi. Internode length — Ranging from 5-12 cm.
    • k. Lateral branches.—i. Quantity — Abundant. ii. Cross-section — Oval. iii. Length — 80-180 cm. iv. Internode length — Ranging from 2-3 cm. v. Texture — Smooth with raised lenticels. vi. Aspect — Outward. vii. Strength — Flexible. viii. Color (young lateral branches) — 196D. ix. Color (mature lateral branches) — 197D. x. Pubescence — None.

FOLIAGE

• General:
  • • l. Arrangement.—Opposite.
    • m. Attachment.—Petiolate.
    • n. Division.—Simple.
    • o. Lamina.—i. Length — 50 mm (average). ii. Width — 12 mm (average). iii. Thickness — 1.5-2 mm. iv. Shape — Acuminate. v. Aspect — Straight. vi. Apex — Acuminate. vii. Base — Cuneate. viii. Margin — Entire (smooth). ix. Texture of upper surface — Smooth. x. Texture of lower surface — Slightly pubescent. xi. Color of young lamina (upper surface) — 141B. xii. Color of young lamina (lower surface) — 142B. xiii. Color of mature lamina (upper surface) — 143B. xiv. Color of mature lamina (lower surface) — 142B. xv. Venation pattern — Pinnate.
    • p. Petiole.—i. Length — 2 mm. ii. Diameter — 1.2 mm. iii. Texture — Smooth. iv. Strength — Medium. v. Color — 142B.

INFLORESCENCE

• General:
  • • q. Type.—Panicle.
    • r. Natural flowering season.—Spring.
    • s. Flowering habit.—1-10 days during May.
    • t. Length.—2.5-6.5 cm.
    • u. Width.—1-3 cm.
    • v. Quantity of florets per inflorescence.—20-25.
    • w. Peduncle.—i. Length — 2.5-6.5 cm. ii. Width — 1.2 cm. iii. Texture — Smooth. iv. Strength — Medium. v. Color — 141D. vi. Diameter — 1.2 cm.
    • x. Pedicels.—i. Length — 2 mm. ii. Width — 1 mm. iii. Texture — Smooth. iv. Strength — Medium. v. Color — 141D.

FLOWER BUD

• General:
  • • y. Shape.—Globular.
    • z. Length.—2-4 mm.
    • aa. Width.—2 mm.
    • bb. Color.—157A.

FLOWER

• General:
  • • cc. Type.—Perfect.
    • dd. Shape.—Cruciform.
    • ee. Persistence.—Medium.
    • ff. Fragrance.—Smooth and intoxicating.
    • gg. Diameter.—3-6 mm.
    • hh. Height.—2-3 mm.
    • ii. Calyx.—i. Quantity of sepals — 4. ii. Arrangement — Rotate. iii. Diameter — 1 cm.
    • jj. Sepals.—i. Sepal fusion — Fused. ii. Length — 1 mm. iii. Width — 1 mm. iv. Shape — Bell shape. v. Apex — Obtuse. vi. Base — Cuneate. vii. Margin — Entire. viii. Texture — Smooth. ix. Color (upper surface) — 184A1. x. Color (lower surface) — 184A1.
    • kk. Petals.—i. Arrangement — Rotate. ii. Quantity — 4. iii. Fusion — Sympetalous petals fused at the proximal half of the corolla. iv. Shape — Acute. v. Apex — Acute. vi. Base — Cuneate. vii. Margin — Entire. viii. Texture — Smooth. ix. Color when opening (upper surface) — NN155D. x. Color when opening (lower surface) — NN155D. xi. Color when fully opened (upper surface) — NN155D. xii. Color when fully opened (lower surface) — NN155D. xiii. Color fading — None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

• General:
  • • ll. Androecium.—i. Stamen quantity — 2. ii. Filament length — Approximately 0.75 mm. iii. Filament color — 17D1. iv. Anther attachment — Basifixed. v. Anther shape — Hemispherical. vi. Anther size — 1 mm. vii. Anther color — 2A. viii. Abundance of pollen — Abundant. ix. Pollen color — 2A.
    • mm. Gynoecium.—i. Pistil quantity — 1. ii. Stigma shape — Bifid cone shape. iii. Stigma length — Approximately 0.75 mm. iv. Stigma color — 145D. v. Style size — Approximately 0.75 mm. vi. Style color — 145D. vii. Ovary position — Superior. viii. Ovary shape — Round. ix. Ovary diameter — Approximately 0.75 mm. x. Ovary color — 145D.

SEED AND FRUIT

• General:
  • • nn. Fruit.—i. Date of maturity — November-December. ii. Size — Medium. iii. Weight — 2 g (medium). iv. Diameter — 20 mm (medium). v. Length — 18 mm (medium). vi. Form — Ovoidal. vii. Suture — None. viii. Stem cavity — Medium. ix. Stem — Medium. x. Caliper — Medium. xi. Apex — Slightly. xii. Pistil point — Obscure. xiii. Skin thickness — Less than 1 mm. xiv. Skin texture — Smooth. xv. Skin tendency to crack — None. xvi. Skin color — 83A. xvii. Flesh color — 158C. xviii. Pit color — 144C. xix. Flavor — Different/Excellent. xx. Ripening — Medium.
    • oo. Stone.—i. Quantity — 1. ii. Shape — Ovate. iii. Type — Slightly asymmetric. iv. Fibers — None. v. Weight — 0.40 g (medium). vi. Length — 14 mm (medium). vii. Width — 10 mm (medium). viii. Thickness — 10 mm. ix. Apex — Rounded. x. Base — Rounded. xi. Color — PMS 468.xii. Texture — Slightly grooved. xiii. Mucron — Present. xiv. Suture — Present. xv. Sides — Round. xvi. Ridges — Absent. xvii. Tendency to split — None.

DEVELOPMENT

• General:
  • • a. Flowering season.—1-10 days during April.
    • b. Harvesting season.—7 months from flowering to harvest.
    • c. Time to produce a fruit bearing tree.—2-3 years.
    • d. Chilling requirements.—Average/typical for olives.
    • e. Hardiness.—Preferably adapted between 30 and 45 degrees on the north and south meridians. 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: 8a-11b.
    • f. Plant/fruit disease resistance.—i. Olive leaf spot (Spilocaea oleagina) — Moderately Resistant.
    • g. Fruit market use.—Oil with intense fruitiness and apple-green color. It has aromas of banana, apple and hints of almond shells. It is sweet and balanced on the palate, slightly bitter and slightly spicier.

The new variety ‘I 25’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of olive tree named ‘I 25’, as illustrated and described herein.