Physiological and Biochemical Response of Olive (Olea europaea L.) Cultivars to Foliar Potassium Application

Authors
S. Zivdar 1
K. Arzani 1
M. K. Souri 1
N. Moallemi 2
S. M. Seyyednejad 3
1 Department of Horticultural Science, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), P. O. Box: 14115-336, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
2 Department of Horticultural Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
3 Department of Plant Physiology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Abstract
This study was conducted under Ahvaz, Iran environmental condition during 2012 and 2013 growing seasons in order to investigate the influence of foliar application of potassium on some physiological and biochemical characteristics of three olive cultivars including ‘Mission’, ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Dezfuli’. Potassium sulfate in different concentrations of 0, 1, and 2 g l-1 was sprayed twice on selected mature 10 year old trees; at 50 and 65 days after full bloom. Potassium sprays increased leaf chlorophyll content of all cultivars, leaf potassium content in ‘Mission’ and ‘Koroneiki’ cvs., fruit anthocyanin concentration of ‘Dezfuli’ in two crop seasons. However, K treatments had no significant effect on leaf N and P content, fruit K and P content in all studied cultivars. Fruit soluble carbohydrates increased by foliar application of potassium in ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Dezfuli’ cultivars in the second year of study. Stem water potential and leaf stomatal conductance were significantly affected by cultivar and K treatments during the two years. Our findings showed that foliar application of potassium resulted in the decrease of stomatal conductance of ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Dezfuli’ in two crop seasons. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the studied cultivars differently respond to K treatments during the two crop seasons and foliar potassium application could have a positive impact on leaf chlorophyll, leaf potassium, fruit soluble carbohydrates and fruit anthocyanins in olive cultivars.

Keywords

Subjects

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 18, Issue 7
November and December 2016
Pages 1897-1908