STUDIES ON GROWTH, CROPPING AND WATER RELATIONS IN OLIVES (Olea europaea L.)
Loading...
Date
2010
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “studies on growth, cropping and water relations in olives
(Olea europaea L.)” was undertaken at the Olive Development Centre, Kigus, district Mandi,
Himachal Pradesh, during the years 2007-2009. The whole programme of work under this study was
divided in two experiments with the objectives of screening out the existing olive cultivars for their
drought tolerance and to ascertain the influence of paclobutrazol and cycocel on growth, cropping and
water relations in olives. Experiment I consisted of eleven cultivars and replicated three times
whereas, in experiment II, eight treatments viz. PP333 at 2 and 4 g a.i. tree-1 applied once in November
or December as soil drench and cycocel at 1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm applied as foliar spray each
year, two weeks after flowering to the trees of cultivars Leccino and Pendolino, with three replications
were in a randomized block design. Olive cultivar Leccino showed less reduction in growth, leaf
water potential, photosynthetic activity, nutrient uptake and accumulated more osmoprotectants like
proline, ABA and free amino acids, which enable it to perform better under rain fed conditions of H.P.
It may inferred that cultivars like Leccino can tolerate drought stress conditions better than other
cultivars. Growth retardants have a great potential for controlling the growth, water relations and
improving cropping parameters in rain fed conditions. During the study PP333 at 4 g a.i tree-1 when
applied in November as soil drench decreased stomata size, water potential, transpiration rate,
endogenous GA3, stomata conductance and increased photosynthesis, osmoprotectants, ABA,
flowering intensity and fruit set, and thus might be helpful in mitigating water stress under rain fed
conditions.
Description
Keywords
olives, growth, cropping and water relations