PICHOLINE MAROCAINE
Country: Morocco
Purpose: Dual-purpose (table and oil)
Distribution: It represents more than the 96% of the entire Moroccan olive heritage.
Synonyms: “Beldi”, “Bouchouika”, “Bousbina”, “Zit”, “Zitoun”.
Agronomic and commercial considerations: This variety is well adapted to the pedoclimatic conditions of the entire country where it represents more than 96% of the entire olive growing heritage. This variety is considered rustic with an average entry into production. It blooms in intermediate period, and it is partially self-compatible. Productivity is high but alternating. It is a cultivar with a dual purpose, it provides every type of edible product, from green crushed to black ripe. The detachment of the pulp from the seed is easy and the oil is of an excellent quality. One of the characteristics of the oil produced by Picholine Marocaine is its resistance to freezing, in fact it becomes paste-like at -12 ºC (-13 ºF) and therefore it is also used for canned-food. The cultivar is resistant to drought but sensitive to olive leaf spot (Cycloconium oleaginum).
