Characteristic features of local olive eco-types on the island of Ugljan, Croatia

The island of Ugljan, in Croatia, has had a tradition of olive cultivation for over two thousand years, which was confirmed by the archaeological discovery of a Roman olive processing facility at the locality of Muline. Such long period of cultivation, combined with selective and spontaneous hybridization, has resulted in new types of olives. Various local eco-types have been found, but they have never been described in detail. Orchards around Sutomiscica and Poljana villages contain olive varieties named “Puljka” and “Ostrica”, respectively, which were first recognized in 1921. We described several morphological features of “Puljka” and “Ostrica” olive varieties emphasizing mass and size of fruit and pit according to IOC’s norms. The aim of this research is to morphologically describe and compare “Puljka” and “Ostrica” in detail, in order to generate new knowledge about their biological characteristics. The research was conducted through three vegetation years. Five individual representative trees were chosen from each variety, and sample fruits were then taken for measuring from the south central side of the trees. The average values of fruit and pit mass correspond to values from other literary sources. Our data demonstrated that “Puljka” and “Ostrica” are varieties with medium-sized fruit and large-sized pit in accordance with IOC norms. The varieties also statistically differ in several characteristic features that could be further employed in morphometry of olive varieties.