ABSTRACT
Two field trials were carried out during 2018 and 2019 seasons on
Picual olive trees with 10-years old and planted at 6x6 meters apart
propagated by leafy cutting and growing in private farm in Sahel Selim
district-Assiut Governorate. Two and three sprays of chitosan at 250, 500
and 1000 ppm were added to Picual olive trees. To stud the effects of
chitosan on growth, yield as well as physical and chemical properties of
the fruits and fruit oil characteristics.
The results indicated that two and three sprays of chitosan at 250 to
1000 ppm was responsible for improving Shoot length, number of
leaves/shoot as well as total surface area per in the selected tree, nutrients
namely N, P and K in the leaves, leaves or branches as well as decreasing
total acidity %, flowering % and fruit setting aspects namely length of
inflorescence (cm.), number of flowers/ inflorescence, perfect flowers %,
as compared with the check treatment.
The promotion was associated with increasing concentrations from
250 to 1000 ppm spraying of chitosan at two times at the beginning of
vegetative growth, immediately after berry set and after one month
considerably enhanced all growth characters, percentages of N, P, K, Mg
and Ca, yield as well as fruit quality and fruit oil characteristics in
relative to the check treatment.
Under the experimental conditions and resembling regions it is
recommended spraying chitosan at 500 ppm tow times at the beginning
of vegetative growth, immediately after berry setting to improve growth
and yield, physical& chemical characteristics as well as oil& fruit
quality.