Propagation method seems to play a key role in fruit tree growing. It is crucial to know how new in vitro propagation techniques can affect the morphology and the dynamics of shoot growth in different olive cultivars, to better assess its suitability for olive orchard intensification. The goal of this research was to field-evaluate the effect of micropropagation, compared with mist-propagation method, on sprout growth and shoot branching of the ‘Arbequina’ and ‘Coratina’ olive cultivars grown in an adult super high-density orchard (1,667 trees ha-1). For this purpose, on 2 shoots per tree and on 9 trees per cultivars, growth of the sprouts emitted by apical and lateral buds were measured. The trees obtained by micropropagation had a greater tendency to vegetative growth in ‘Coratina’ but not in ‘Arbequina’. For ‘Coratina’, a higher number of nodes were found for micropropagated trees than for mist-propagated ones, that were characterized by one proleptic bud in a basal position and a vigorous apical bud. Micropropagation did not have a significant impact on the vegetative dynamics of ‘Arbequina’. On the contrary, micropropagation was found to have significant negative impact on the shoot dynamics of ‘Coratina’. Furthermore, it was suggested that the intensity of this effect depended on the vigour of the propagated cultivar, being ‘Coratina’ more vigorous than ‘Arbequina’. These observations are essential for a best comparative varietal evaluation and for the assessment of propagation method in super high-density olive planting systems.
Micropropagation affects tree architecture of two olive cultivars: a field evaluation
Maldera, F.
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;Costanza, L.Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;Vivaldi, G. A.Writing – Review & Editing
;Camposeo, S.Writing – Review & Editing
2024-01-01
Abstract
Propagation method seems to play a key role in fruit tree growing. It is crucial to know how new in vitro propagation techniques can affect the morphology and the dynamics of shoot growth in different olive cultivars, to better assess its suitability for olive orchard intensification. The goal of this research was to field-evaluate the effect of micropropagation, compared with mist-propagation method, on sprout growth and shoot branching of the ‘Arbequina’ and ‘Coratina’ olive cultivars grown in an adult super high-density orchard (1,667 trees ha-1). For this purpose, on 2 shoots per tree and on 9 trees per cultivars, growth of the sprouts emitted by apical and lateral buds were measured. The trees obtained by micropropagation had a greater tendency to vegetative growth in ‘Coratina’ but not in ‘Arbequina’. For ‘Coratina’, a higher number of nodes were found for micropropagated trees than for mist-propagated ones, that were characterized by one proleptic bud in a basal position and a vigorous apical bud. Micropropagation did not have a significant impact on the vegetative dynamics of ‘Arbequina’. On the contrary, micropropagation was found to have significant negative impact on the shoot dynamics of ‘Coratina’. Furthermore, it was suggested that the intensity of this effect depended on the vigour of the propagated cultivar, being ‘Coratina’ more vigorous than ‘Arbequina’. These observations are essential for a best comparative varietal evaluation and for the assessment of propagation method in super high-density olive planting systems.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
