Hellenic Agricultural Organisation“DIMITRA” hosts National Olive Germplasm Bank of Greece (NOGB). A matrix of 107 olive varieties (Oleaeuropaeasubsp. europaea and Oleaeuropaeasubsp. cuspidata) (46 Greek and 61 foreigner) are grown in conservation fields and 64 of them have been registered in the National Catalogue.NOGBconsisted of seven ex situ conservation fields in three areas (Institute; Chrisopigi; Nerokourou) near to the Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture (IOSV), Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DIMITRA” (Chania, Southern Greece).Over a 40-year period, preservation of genetic resources, Genetic x Environment interaction and breeding studies are conducted in more than 3,000 olive trees.
In 2017, IOSV has installed a preliminary olive germplasm collection with plant nursery material “prebasic” of the main Greek commercial varieties free of pathogens outlined in directives issued by the EU/EPPO. The collection aims to provide authenticated and initial healthy genetic material to the nurseries for propagation purposes. The collection is located in the central facilities of Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture and comprised of 16 Greek and 2 foreignervarieties.
Enrichment of National Olive Germplasm Bank of Greece is continued by the addition of new varieties, selections from Greece and other countries.
