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ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE PISTACHIO TREE

The pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) probably originated in central Asia (Zohary 1952, Whitehouse 1957) where large areas of native trees were found. According to N. I. Vavilov Pistacia vera L. originates from the center of the Near East where the greatest number of its genetic forms are found. In Syria its cultivation has been known for 3,500 years, while the first reports of Theophrastus (300 BC) and Dioscorides (1st century AD) claim that the pistachio was used as a medicinal species and came from India.

It was introduced to Mediterranean Europe at the beginning of the pre-Christian period. Pliny mentions that Tiberius transferred in 30 BC. the pistachio tree from Syria to Rome and from there to Spain – France from where it spread to Sicily, Algeria – Tunis and later (1853-54) to California. Today, apart from Greece, it is cultivated in areas with hot and dry climate, such as Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Iran, India, Turkey, S. Europe, the dry-thermal countries of Asia and Africa and the U.S.A. (California). In addition, pistachios are Syrians’ favorites who use them in their celebrations, especially in their weddings, offering them like Greeks do with sugarplums.

In Greece, the newspaper of Hellenic Agriculture (1856) states that the first pistachio trees were cultivated in Zakynthos and Pyrgos Ilias. Other sources state that the pistachio came around 1860 and was first cultivated in Attica. But the first push was given by Dem. Pavlidis (1860) with the establishment of pistachio trees in Psychiko, Attica, while the agronomists Orphanidis (1869) and Gennadios (1882), who created the first pistachio nurseries at the Public Arboretum in the area of ​​the current AGSA, contributed substantially to its spread. Initially, pistachio cultivation was limited to the coasts of Attica and the island of Aegina. From 1950 it began to expand to Viotia, Corinthia, Evia and Fthiotida and from 1968 to central and northern Greece (Thessaly, Halkidiki, Rhodope), Crete and the Cyclades.

Systematic pistachio farms in our country occupy an area of ​​41,129 acres and the average annual production of dry pistachios amounts to 5,016 tons (Statistical Yearbook of Greece, 1991).

The pistachio is cultivated for its fruits, which are considered the most delicious nut. The fruits, when still tender, are used to make spoon dessert.

CULTIVATION OF THE PISTACHIO TREE IN AEGINA

At the beginning of our century, doctor Nikolaos Peroglou brought the first pistachio trees from Syria and planted them on his estate in Aegina. At first he kept the cultivation a secret. In a treatise he wrote on the pistachio (1916), he urges landowners to indulge in the cultivation of this valuable tree, with the belief that it will reward them slowly, but sufficiently and surely.

Then Fortunas, who had taken over the irrigation system of Aegina, created his own pistachio nursery and professionally engaged in its cultivation. Little by little, the pistachio began to be cultivated experimentally.\

Peroglou gave his neighbor Galaris pistachio seedlings that he planted on his property in the early 1900s. These trees are still in production today. During a commercial transaction between the islanders, where the pistachio fetched a higher price than the must, Nikolis Haimantas was convinced to plant pistachio trees on his estate, replacing the almond trees. Old man Chaimandas was one of the first to predict the future of the dragonfly and planted it on all his estates. The high price of pistachio resulted in the new tree displacing the other crops and today in Aegina we have monoculture. The pistachio has helped the economic development of the island and the preservation of the ecological balance and traditional form of Aegina.

Until the early 1960s, pistachio cultivation was traditional, i.e. they dug with hoes and used horse-drawn ploughs. Today cultivation is almost mechanized, due to the lack of labor and the high cost of cultivation. Of great importance in the spread of the pistachio in Aegina was the creation of organized nurseries on the island, since the variety of the pistachio from Aegina Island gives trees of great productivity. (Folklore museum of Aegina.)

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION AND BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PISTACIA VERA

A species of dicotyledonous plant belonging to the ANACARDEAE family. The Pistacia genus includes 11 species, of which 3 occur naturally in Greece and are as follows:

  • Pistacia terebinthus, L kn. Kokorevithia, kokoretsa etc. It is a deciduous sapling or shrub, 1-5 m tall with drupe chestnut fruit. It is used as a groundnut.
  • Pistacia terebinthus, cv. Tsikoudia, Mr. Tsikoudia. It grows naturally mainly in Chios and Crete. It is a deciduous, dioecious tree, over 10 m tall. Its fruits are initially red and turn to pencil green when ripe. It is considered as the most suitable substrate for the pistachio.
  • Pistacia lentiscus, kn. rope. It is usually a shrub, 1-5 m tall, evergreen, dioecious with a small red drupe fruit. A variety of this species is the well-known mastic tree (cv. Chia or latifolia).

The species Pistacia vera. L., Pistachio the original kn. Pistachio, cultivated for its fruits, the well-known Aegina pistachios. It is a deciduous, dioecious, protandrous, long-lived, slow-growing tree and 6-9 meters tall.

The trunk and branches have ash-colored bark that darkens with age. The root system is strong and can reach a depth of three meters and a width of up to 6-8 meters.

Athanasia Chatziperi, Agronomist, Attica Region