Verdale-de-l'Hérault is an olive cultivar developed in the department of Hérault, in the southern French region of Occitanie. The fruit produces a sweet oil with a light and fruity aroma of greenery, nuts, and apple, and exhibits no bitterness.[1]

Type

France recognizes cultivars of olive, as opposed to sixteen in other areas, excluding any variety or local names, and the Verdale-de-l'Hérault is included among the Verdale, Verdaou, and Pourridale.[2]

Characteristics

The Verdale-de-l'Hérault is slow growing with good frost resistance. The fruit is large and ovoid.[3] The cultivar typically has a low yield of 10 kilograms (22 lb) of olives for 1 liter (0.22 imp gal; 0.26 U.S. gal) of oil.[4]

The leaves of the Verdale-de-l'Hérault are short and narrow with a lanceolate shape. The fruit shape is slightly-asymmetric, spherical, rounded at the apex, and with a truncated base.[5] The fruit produces a sweet oil with no bitterness with aromas of greenery, hazelnuts and apple.[6][7]

Concerns

Olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS) has been associated with the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa,[8] was first reported in 2013, and has been observed in Italy[9] as well as other countries. The bacteria subspecies multiplex was found in Corsica in July 2015. X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca has been detected in the Menton area.[10]

Verdale-de-l'Hérault cultivar is susceptible to Verticillium dahliae and Spilocaea oleaginea (peacock or Pan Eye) disease

Other uses

Verdale-de-l'Hérault is used as a pollinator for the Picholine.

References

  1. ^ Moutier, Nathalie; Pinatel, Christian; Martre, André; Roger, Jean-Paul; Khadari, Bouchaïb; Burgevin, Jean-François; Ollivier, Denis; Artaud, Jacques (2004). Identification des variétés d'oliviers cultivées en France (in French). Vol. 1. Turriers: Naturalia Publications. p. 246. ISBN 978-2-909717-43-2.
  2. ^ Google books: Verdale-de-l'Hérault: The Cultivation of the Olive by J. Harris Browne (1883, pp. 5-6)- Retrieved 2018-07-04
  3. ^ Verdale-de-l'Hérault characteristics- Retrieved 2018-07-04
  4. ^ Verdale-de-l'Hérault olive oil yield- Retrieved 2018-07-04
  5. ^ Olea Database: Verdale-de-l'Hérault- Retrieved 2018-07-07
  6. ^ Sud-de-France- Retrieved 2018-07-07
  7. ^ Coupé, Raynald. "La Verdale de l'Hérault". Huilerie Confiserie Coopérative Oléicole de Clermont l'Hérault.
  8. ^ Saponari, M.; Boscia, D.; Altamura, G.; Loconsole, G.; Zicca, S.; d'Attoma, G.; Morelli, M.; Palmisano, F.; Saponari, A.; Tavano, D.; Savino, V. N.; Dongiovanni, C.; Martelli, G. P. (2017). "Isolation and pathogenicity of Xylella fastidiosa associated to the olive quick decline syndrome in southern Italy". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 17723. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-17957-z. PMC 5735170. PMID 29255232.
  9. ^ "EU warning as olive tree disease spreads in Italy". BBC News. 2015-03-24.
  10. ^ European Commission: Latest Developments of Xylella fastidiosa in the EU territory.- Retrieved 2018-07-04