Growth Habit, Foliage and Fruiting Characteristics of Different Olive Cultivars Grown in Mid Hills of Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Present investigation reports the vegetative, foliage and fruiting behavior of sixteen olive cultivars. Observations were recorded on different growth habits, foliage and fruiting characters recorded at Advanced Centre of Horticulture Development, Department of Horticulture, Govindpura, Ramban during two consecutive years i.e. 2014 and 2015 on twenty year old trees. Cultivar Itrana recorded maximum plant height (5.73 m), plant spread (4.44 m) and plant volume (59.19 m3). Erect and spreading growth habit along with medium and sparse plant canopy was observed among the cultivars. Cultivar Cipressino registered maximum number of fruiting shoots, whereas cultivar Nocellara Messinese recorded maximum yield (38.90 and 39.60 kg plant-1, respectively) in both the year of study