Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative Yield of Olive Cultivars in North of Khuzestan Province, Iran

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Abstract

In order to assess the adaptability of olive cultivars in Northern Khuzestan, an experiment was conducted as a complete randomized block design with 21 cultivars in three replications. Study of flowering of cultivars showed that X-S and Doebli cultivars had 20% (lowest) and 100% (highest) complete flowers, respectively. Results of analysis of variance for quantitative traits showed that cultivar had a significant effect on all studied traits (P ≤ 0.01). Results of combined analysis (2007-2009) also showed that the effect of year on fruit yield and oil yield/tree was significant (P ≤ 0.05). Considering the yield and size of trees in different cultivars, the highest fruit yield was achieved in cultivars Conservalia (7549 kgha-1), Mahzam Abu-Satl (6769 kgha-1), Kronaieki (6239 kgha-1) and X-D (4022 kgha-1) respectively. Cultivar X-S had the highest and Valanolia had the lowest oil content /fresh weight (18.1 and 3.1%, respectively). Based on yield, oil content and size of trees, the highest oil yield /ha was achieved in Conservalia (723 kgha-1), X-D (404 kgha-1), Amigdafolia (396 kgha-1) and X-S (373 kgha-1) respectively. Based these results, Conservalia could be suggested as a double purpose cultivar in commercial olive orchards in Khuzestan due to its high yield and good conserving quality.

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