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

Abstract

This study was conducted under Ahvaz, Iran environm ental condition during 2012 and 2013 growing seasons in order to investigate the in fluence of foliar application of potassium on some physiological and biochemical cha racteristics of three olive cultivars including ‘Mission’, ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Dezfuli’. Pot assium sulfate in different concentrations of 0, 1, and 2 g l -1 was sprayed twice on selected mature 10 year old t rees; at 50 and 65 days after full bloom. Potassium spray s increased leaf chlorophyll content of all cultivars, leaf potassium content in ‘Mission’ and ‘Koroneiki’ cvs., fruit anthocyanin concentration of ‘Dezfuli’ in two crop seasons. How ever, K treatments had no significant effect on leaf N and P content, fruit K and P conte nt in all studied cultivars. Fruit soluble carbohydrates increased by foliar application of po tassium in ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Dezfuli’ cultivars in the second year of study. Stem water p otential and leaf stomatal conductance were significantly affected by cultivar and K treat ments during the two years. Our findings showed that foliar application of potassiu m resulted in the decrease of stomatal conductance of ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Dezfuli’ in two cro p 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 carbohyd rates and fruit anthocyanins in olive cultivars. Keywords: Foliar application, Olive, Potassium, Soluble carbohydrates, Stomatal conductance.