ISHS Acta Horticulturae 791: V International Symposium on Olive Growing
DYNAMICS OF DRY MATTER PARTITIONING IN YOUNG 'NOCELLARA DEL BELICE' OLIVE TREES |
| Authors: | L. Scariano, R. Lo Bianco, L. Di Marco, M. Policarpo |
| Keywords: | coarse roots, fine roots, growth, potted trees, root:shoot ratio |
| Abstract:
Dry matter partitioning of 'Nocellara del Belice' olive (Olea europaea L.) trees was assessed during one growing season. Four three-year-old potted trees from rooted cuttings trained to single-trunk free-canopy were destructively harvested at 30-day intervals during the growing season. The average dry matter increase was about 2 kg·year-1 per tree. Total plant dry weight increased linearly over the year, whereas root to shoot ratio followed a quadratic trend with its peak during winter. Dry matter of all canopy parts (trunk, branches, 1-year-old shoots, and leaves) increased linearly and leaves exhibited the fastest growth. Also fine roots accumulated dry matter over the year in a linear fashion, whereas dry matter of coarse roots increased until the end of January and then leveled off. On the average, 31% of the total dry mass was partitioned to the roots (20% coarse and 11% fine), 28% to the leaves, 14% to shoot axes, 7% to two-year-old wood, and 14% to main trunk. Trunk cross-sectional area was positively related to both root and shoot dry weight, and proves to be a good indicator of above- and below-ground vegetative growth in young olive trees. | |
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