STUDY OF SOME FACTORS AND TREATMENTS RELATED TO FLORAL BUD INDUCTION OF SOME OLIVE CULTIVARS

Abstract

This study was conducted during the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons on trees of olive 'Picual' and 'Manzanillo' grown in a private orchard at Rafah, North Sinai. This investigation comprised two experiments; first experiment was designed to determine the induction period anatomically and by using leaf defoliation and study changes in endogenous content related to it in leaf and bud. In the second experiment conducted treatments (thi1ming at 50 % and 50 %, Mepiquat chloride spray at 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 ppm) were used on trees at "on" bearing status to study their effect on flowering and its parameters and yield and its characteristics in the following season. The obtained results could be summarized as follows:

It is clear from results in first experiment floral induction period starting from July and August and continue till November, changes in endogenous content related to floral bud induction showed increasing in total carbohydrates, C/N ratio, potassium, total and reducing sugars and total amino acids and decreasing in total nitrogen and total phenols on leaf and bud. Results in second experiment clarify effect of treatments on flowering parameters (flowering density, length of inflorescence, panicles/ inflorescence, flowers per inflorescence, sex ratio), fruit set and retention, yield and its parameters. In general highest significant effect on floral and fruiting parameters was found attributed to thitming 50 % of fruits in both cultivars and seasons. Study of direction effect on flowering and its parameters and fruit set show significantly differences between. four directions on these parameters, shoots at southern and northern direction carried the highest results with these parameters in both seasons and cultivars.