The aim of this study was to evaluate the floral biology characteristics of the present olive genetic resources. For the period of flowering, varieties Bouchouk Rkike and Bakhboukh Beldi, are the earliest. Gordal, Ascolana Tenera, Ascolana Dura, Cucco, Manzanille, and types of oleasters BM4, BMK, appears later. Varieties Bouchouika, Bouchouk Laghlide, types Picholine Marocaine G9, G10, S1, S2, M1, M6, Dahbia, Picholine du Languedoc, Picual, types of oleasters BMR, BMM, BM3, BM2, showed seasonal flowering. The flowering rate ranged from 50% to 71% depending on the variety, local types and years. The local types (BM2, BMM, BM4, Bakhboukh Beldi) recorded the highest number of flowers per inflorescence (18.99 to 24.67). Others cultivars and local types, have given the lowest values of this studied character (11.34 to 17.82). The number of perfect flowers per inflorescences ranged from 4,85 to 12,99. Picholine du Languedoc, BMR, BM3, BMK, BMM, Bouchouika, Bouchouk Rkike, Manzanille and BM2 have shown the highest values (10.09 to 12.99). Gordal, BM4, Dahbia, Ascolana Dura, Picual, Bouchouk Laghlide, Cucco, M1, G9, G10, M6, S2, Ascolana Tenera, Bakhboukh Beldi, and S1 presented a values varying from 4.85 to 7.27. The percentage of pistil abortion appears very high (9.904% to 81.531%). The lowest ovary abortion rates recorded in years of low production (year off), was compensated by an increase in the number of hermaphrodite flowers per inflorescences. The highest ovarian abortion rates (59.632% to 86.252%), were observed in varieties Bouchouk Laghlide, Picual, Ascolana Dura, Gordal, BM4, Bakhboukh Beldi, Ascolana Tenera and types Picholine Marocaine S1 and S2. Types Picholine Marocaine M1, G10, M6, G9, BM2 and Cucco gave a mean ovary abortion (50.20% to 58.411%). While varieties Picholine du Languedoc, Manzanille, Bouchouika, Dahbia, Bouchouk Rkike, BMM, BMK, BM3 showed low ovarian abortion rates (9.904% to 41.866%). This parameter reached (24% to 72.5%) in Moroccan Picholine, (11.5% to 27%) in Picholine du Languedoc and (16.4% to 59.4%) in the Manzanille variety. As for varieties Dahbia, Ascolana Dura, Gordal and Cucco, they have presented ovary abortion rate of 12.81%; 69%; 34% and 66.3% respectively. The inflorescences situated at the base of the flowering shoots presented the highest ovary abortion rates(15.75% to 81.79%) compared to the inflorescences located at the apical parts(7.78% to 82.55%) and median part of the same shoots (8.21% to 82.55%).
The lowest ovary abortion rates were also observed in the flowers situated in the top of the inflorescences and the highest ovary abortion rate is obtained in the lateral flower of inflorescences. Statistical analysis (PCA) has permitted to identify three distinct groups:
-Group I (types of oleasters BM3, BMR, BMK, Picholine du Languedoc, Manzanille, Bouchouk Rkike, Bouchouika, Dahbia), with a high number of perfect flowers per inflorescences and a low ovarian abortion percentage.
-Group II: (types of oleasters BM2, BMM), with also a high number of flowers and perfect flowers per inflorescences and a low ovary abortion percentage.
