INFLUENCE OF AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS ON FRUIT YIELD AND OIL CONTENT OF OLIVE CULTIVARS

The influence of agro-climatic conditions on fruit yield and oil content of olive cultivars, i.e. Coratina, Pendallino and Leccino was investigated at two locations, Sangbhatti and Chakwal, during 2008 and 2009. Cultivars, Leccino had the highest number of fruits (7995 per tree), fruit yield (12.57 kg per tree) and oil content (7.04%), while cultivar Pendallino had the highest fruit set (12.67%) and cultivar Coratina had the highest fruit size (2.02 cm) at both locations. Pendallino ranked second to Leccino in number of fruits (5376per tree),fruit size (1.99 cm), and fruit yield (11.34 kg/tree) and oil content (6.53%). The number of fruits per tree, fruit set and oil content was higher at Chakwal location as compared to Sangbhatti. By contrast, the fruit size and fruit yield were higher at Sangbhatti location. Cultivar Coratina had the maximum fruit size but least oil content among the three cultivars studied. The interaction between C×L and C×L×Y significantly affected the fruit set, number of fruit, fruit size, fruit yield and oil content, while C×Y had significant affect on fruit set, number of fruit, fruit size and oil content. The interaction between L×Y also significant affected the fruit set and oil content. Cultivar Leccino is recommended for higher production of fruits and oil content at both the locations.