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Abstract
This study was conducted in the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture Cairo University during two successive seasons (2005 and 2006). It aimed to study the effect of different levels of shading and pruning on growth, mineral status, flowering, fruiting characteristics and oil quality of Picual and Manzanillo olive trees.
Results obtained showed that shoot extension, number of leaves, LDW and SLW decreased significantly with shading especially at 80% shading than in the control. Whereas chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids significantly increased as a result of shading in both seasons. Leaf N, P, K and Mg content decreased with shading compared with the control. Also, shading significantly decreased flower density, percentage of perfect flowers and final fruit set % in both seasons. Fruit weight, size, diameter and shape significantly decreased compared with the control due to different shading treatments. Seed length, seed diameter and seed weight were not significantly affected with shading which caused significant reduction in pulp/seed % and oil content. However acid number, peroxide and iodine values were increased with shading, thus shading reduced significantly oil quality.
Pruning significantly increased shoot extension, number of leaves and leaf area compared with the control. Also, specific leaf weight was significantly increased. Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids were significantly decreased by all pruning treatments in both seasons compared with the control. Leaf N and K% were significantly increased by different treatments in both seasons compared with the control, whereas leaf P and Mg% were not significantly affected by different treatments in both season. Flower density, percentage perfect flowers and final fruit set % were significantly increased by pruning treatments in both seasons. Fruit weight, fruit size, fruit length, fruit diameter and fruit shape were significantly increased by pruning treatments in both seasons. Seed weight, seed length and seed diameter were not significantly affected by pruning treatments. Percentage of pulp /seed was significantly increased by different pruning treatments in both seasons compared with the control. Moisture % was significantly decreased in the two seasons compared with the control. Pruning treatments significantly increased the oil content in the two seasons compared with the control. Acid number, peroxide values were significantly decreased with pruning treatments, whereas iodine value was not significantly affected by different treatments in both seasons.
Therefore, it could be recommended to apply moderate pruning (50% of 1 – year – old shoots were removed) to prune the olive trees planted under the same conditions