Xylella-resistant “Leccino Millennio” and “Frantoio Millennio” obtained patents. Researchers from Sant’Anna School Life Sciences Institute announced new olive cultivars

Novel olive cultivar “Leccino Millennio” and “Frantoio Millennio” are disclosed. The invention was announced by researchers Rolando Guerriero and Filiberto Loreti of the Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali dell’Università - Pisa together with Susanna Bartolini of the Sant’Anna School Life Sciences Institute. The University of Pisa, as the patent owner, granted a license to third party Co.Ri.Pro-Olivi Pescia.

Over the past decade, genetic improvement programs on olive genotypes “Frantoio” and “Leccino” have been employed to speed up novel hybridization methods and overcome abiotic and biotic stresses with higher productivity and quality of fruits and oil. The cultivars of the invention have shown uniformity and stability for all traits. In particular, genotype “Leccino Millennio” has increased its self-fertility and ability for self-fertilization. Following self-pollination, fruit sets were significantly higher than those obtained by open pollination.

Xylella fastidiosa emergency measures are regularly discussed at the monthly meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed - Section Plant Health - EU Member States.  Italy (mainly Apulia region), Spain, France and Germany must carry out annual surveys for the presence of Xylella fastidiosa in their territory. Any positive finding must be reported to the EU Commission and other Member States.

At the present time, research into sources of resistance in olive trees is one of the principle objectives of two projects of the H2020 Program. Scientists have identified the Leccino cultivars as more resistant to infection by the Xylella bacteria. According to Donato Boscia, a researcher of the Department of Bio-Agricultural Sciences of the CNR - Bari, the Leccino cultivar under experimentation can enhance the production of specific antioxidant and antimicrobial molecules to fight the pathogen and avoid its spreading across Italy.

Cover photo: cultivar “Frantoio Millennio”