Varietal behaviour according to the superintensive oliveculture training system

The olive industry of Apulia (Southern Italy) is based on about 370,000 hectares and is designed according to traditional and centuries-old training systems. This olivecultural model is characterized by limited yield levels and high production costs. The possibility of reducing harvesting costs - the main production cost - by means of the superintensive oliveculture model developed in Spain was examined and an experimental olive orchard was established in 2002. The experimental field included six Italian olive cultivars and two Spanish cultivars. Preliminary results on tree growth, canopy development and initial flowering are reported