Document Type : Research paper
Authors
1
Crop and Horticultural Research Department, West Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, AREEO, Urmia, Iran
2
Soil and Water Research Department, Zanjan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Zanjan, Iran
3
Soil and Water research Department, Zanjan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Zanjan, Iran
10.22059/ijhst.2025.381534.914
Abstract
The identification of suitable cultivars capable of alleviating environmental stress is essential for effective olive orchard management. This study was to identify cultivars demonstrating tolerance to drought stress, thereby facilitating the establishment of new olive orchards. For this purpose, six olive cultivars were analyzed in this study: Zard, Amygdalolia, Conservolia, Abou-Salt, Arbequina, and Manzanilla. In a greenhouse, the olive plants were cultivated in 10-liter pots that were equally filled with sand, field soil, and cocopeat. The plants were exposed to four different levels of drought stress over a three-month period. Key osmolytes, growth characteristics, and leaf nutrient concentrations were measured. The findings demonstrated that, in comparison to other cultivars, the Abou-Salt and Conservolia showed reduced decline in dry weight of roots and shoots under extreme drought stress. The dry biomass production of both cultivars increased with the 0.25 field capacity treatment. Cultivars of Arbequina, Conservolia, and Abou-Salt also displayed increased shoot growth. Zard had the lowest proline concentration under extreme drought, whereas the Abou-Salt cultivar had the greatest. In response to dryness, Abou-Salt also exhibited the greatest rise in calcium concentration, while Conservolia and Abou-Salt both had the least decrease in potassium levels in their leaves. All things considered, the cultivars of Abou-Salt and Conservolia showed improved resistance to drought, preserving root biomass, reducing phenol buildup, and exhibiting higher amounts of proline, carbohydrates, and calcium in their leaves. Therefore, it is advised that these two genotypes be included in initiatives aimed at developing drought-resistant olive orchards.
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