Architectural characteristics of six olive cultivars with respect to their suitability for high density orchards

Abstract

In a high density (1,250 trees ha-1) olive orchard in central Italy, the
\narchitectural characteristics of ‘Arbequina’, ‘Arbosana’, ‘Koroneiki’, ‘FS17’, ‘Don Carlo’
\nand ‘Giulia’ cultivars was studied. Tree height, canopy dimensions, trunk diameter at
\n0.20, 0.75, 1.5, 2.0 m from the ground, branch intersection height along the trunk,
\ndiameter and length of the primary branches were measured in 2010, when trees
\nwere 2-year-old. On sampled branches at different height, all the productive and
\nvegetative shoots were spatially described. Tree height, trunk diameter and canopy
\nvolume were not significantly different among cultivars, while the number of primary
\nbranches was lower in ‘FS17’ compared to ‘Arbequina’, ‘Arbosana’ and ‘Koroneiki’. The
\nstudied cultivars had different branching patterns along the trunk: a low density
\nbetween 1 and 1.5 m trunk height in ‘FS17’ and a high between 1.5 and 2.0 m in
\n‘Arbequina’. Moreover, the length/diameter ratio of the primary branches was low and
\nhigh in ‘Arbosana’ and ‘Giulia’ and in ‘Arbequina’, respectively. ‘Arbequina’ also showed
\na uniform shoot density along the main axis of the primary branch, whereas an
\nalternate shoot density with the presence of empty portions was observed in the
\nother cultivars. A higher shoot density in the medium-proximal portion of the branch
\nwas seen for ‘Arbosana’ and ‘FS17’. Results presented in this study supply helpful
\ninformation about the different canopy and branch architectural characteristics of the
\nsix studied olive cultivars with respect to their suitability to high density plantations.