Performance of olive cultivars under mid hill region of Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

An investigation was carried out on twenty two years old olive trees at Progeny orchard of State Horticulture Department at Gobindpura, Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir. Observations were recorded on the fruit physico-chemical characteristics, yield and oil content on sixteen cultivars of olive. Fruit ripening period was also recorded for all the olive cultivars under study. The results revealed that cultivar Nocellara Messinese recorded highest fruit weight (7.98 g), fruit length (31.26 mm) and fruit breadth (21.42 mm) whereas minimum fruit weight (2.91 g) and fruit length (19.93 mm) were recorded in cultivar Cipressino and fruit breadth (14.25 mm) in cultivar Cerignola. Highest stone (0.88 g) and pulp weight (7.09 g) were recorded in cultivar Nocellara Messinese whereas minimum stone weight was recorded in cultivar Cerignola (0.43 g) and pulp weight in cultivar Cipressino (2.46 g). Fruit yield (39.25 Kg/plant) and oil content (39.86 %) were recorded maximum in cultivars Nocellara Messinese and Leccino, respectively and minimum in cultivars Azapa (24.05 kg/plant) and Nocellara Etnea (29.95 %), respectively. Early fruit ripening was observed in cultivars Brancolilla, Frantoio, Itrana, Tonda Iblea, Coratina, Moraiolo and Nocellara Etnea whereas late ripening was recorded in cultivar Nocellara del Belice. From the present investigations it is inferred that cultivar Nocellara Messinese performed better in terms of physic-chemical characteristics of fruits and fruit yield. Hence, this variety can be recommended for commercial cultivation in the mid-hills of Jammu and Kashmir