Characterization of olive cultivars for drought tolerance potential under rainfed conditions of Himachal Pradesh

A field experiment was carried out during two subsequent years to study the drought tolerance potentials of the existing olive cultivars at Olive Development Centre, Kigus, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. In this field trial, 33 uniform and healthy, 25-year-old olive trees of 11 olivcultivars viz., Canino, Cipressino, Coratina, Cornicobra, Frantoio, Gordal Sevilana, Hojiblanca, Leccino, Manzanilla, Moraiolo and Pendolino planted on contour system at 6 m apart were selected. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eleven treatments replicated three times. Olive cultivar Leccino showed lesser reduction in growth, upholds higher leaf water potential, higher photosynthetic activity, increased nutrient uptake and accumulated more osmoprotectants like proline, ABA and free amino acids, which enable it to perform better under rainfed conditions of Himachal Pradesh. On the other hand, cultivars Pendolino and Gordal Sevilana showed more water stress related symptoms of leaf yellowing, leaf rolling and shoot tip bending. It maybe inferred that cultivar Leccino can tolerate drought stress conditions better than other cultivars.