Ensuring the authenticity of olive varieties and the absence of pests causing diseases to olive trees has become a necessity for the international trade in olive oil. And this has been one of the reasons that have led the International Olive Council (IOC) together with the University of Cordoba (UCO) to work on the genetic resources found in the IOC network of olive germplasm banks.

For this purpose they have developed a project called True Health Olive Cultivar (THOC) at the World Bank of Olive Germplasm in Cordoba, which aims to provide olive germplasm banks with plant material resistant to diseases with which to produce higher quality extra virgin olive oil.

This program has two stages. The first, which in turn has two phases, is dedicated to the identification and authentication of the original plant material, as well as the propagation, selection, identification and diagnosis of parental plants of initial material.

The second stage will serve to define national guidelines in relation to the prevention, control and health management of the olive tree with respect to Xylella; and to facilitate international trade in olive plants certified as pathogen-free.

It is expected to provide information and training on mechanisms to prevent Xylella, and control and manage the health of olive trees; establish a system to certify authentic and healthy olive trees free of pathogens, and develop a joint action plan (PACXF Olive Tree) with information on technical activities, applicable standards and regulations, surveillance mechanisms, training of those responsible for official phytosanitary monitoring, a certification system, evaluation of the resistance of plant material to pathogens, and dissemination of information.



Source: Olimerca