Souri Download sheet Fruit Denomination and synonyms Origin and diffusion The Souri cultivar, which is autochthonous to the eastern Mediterranean region, is the major olive variety cultivated traditionally under rain-fed conditions in Israel for hundreds of years. Even today, this cultivar occupies approximately two-thirds of the olive-planted area in the country and is based on rain-fed traditional cultivation. The Cv Souri is also distributed in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria. Giora Ben Ari Purpose Oil Table olives Morphological characterisation Tree Vigour Growth habit Spreading Canopy density Dense Fruit Weight Medium Radio length/width in position A Moderately elongated Over colour at full maturity Black Symmetry in position A Strongly asymmetric Shape of apex in position A Acute Nipple Moderate Shape of base in position A Truncate Leaf Length Medium Width Medium Radio length/width Moderately elongated Curvature of longitudinal axis Straight Stone Radio length/width Weight Medium Shape of apex in position A Acute Symmetry in position A Weakly asymmetric Symmetry in position B Symmetric Shape of base in position A Acute Number of grooves on basal end Between 7 and 10 Distribution of grooves on basal end Strongly grouped around suture Mucron Present Rugosity of surface Weak Molecular characterisation (SSRs) UDO-43 DCA3 DCA9 DCA16 GAPU-101 172/214 234/243 192/192 124/154 189/205 Agronomic characterisation and commercial considerations The cv. Souri is characterized by its high adaptability to semiarid conditions and occasional droughts, shallow and stony marginal soils, and varying climatic conditions. The cv. Souri olives are also highly appreciated as green natural fermented table olives, particularly because of their firm grainy aromatic mesocarp. The tree vigor is relatively low. Souri trees are usually traditionaly cultivated. It has a low yield with high rate of alternate bearing. Souri is partially grafted and partially propagated from cuttings that root hardly. Flowering is in mid-season, as is green maturation. Full black maturation is in mid-season. The oil content in mature Souri olives reaching up to 25% percent in irrigated plots and 25-30% in rain-fed plots. The quality of Souri olive oil is accepted as being strong and aromatic. Souri trees are highly sensitive to Spilocea oleagina and resistant to Leopard moth larvae (Ben-Ari, Biton et al. 2014). Ben-Ari, G., et al. (2014). "The Diversity in Performance of Commercial Olive Clones Selected from the Autochthonous cv. Souri Population for Intensive Irrigated Cultivation." HortScience horts 49(4): 425-429. Giora Ben Ari