Comparison of Canopy Architecture of Five Olive Cultivars in a High-Density Planting System in Sicily

Enrico Maria Lodolini (), Alberto de Iudicibus, Pompea Gabriella Lucchese, Giuseppina Las Casas, Biagio Torrisi, Elisabetta Nicolosi, Alessio Giuffrida and Filippo Ferlito ()
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Enrico Maria Lodolini: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 00134 Rome, Italy
Alberto de Iudicibus: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 00134 Rome, Italy
Pompea Gabriella Lucchese: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 00134 Rome, Italy
Giuseppina Las Casas: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 95024 Acireale, Italy
Biagio Torrisi: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 95024 Acireale, Italy
Elisabetta Nicolosi: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Alessio Giuffrida: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 95024 Acireale, Italy
Filippo Ferlito: Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, 95024 Acireale, Italy

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: In a young super-high-density (SHD) olive orchard located in Aidone (EN), in the Sicily Region, Italy, the architectural features of five olive cultivars were studied, specifically Arbequina, Arbosana, Oliana ® , Giulia ® , and FS-17 ® . Surveys were conducted in November 2019 considering biometric measurements for the whole tree, the canopy, and the primary and secondary branches. The “total branching frequency”, the “sectorial branching frequency”, the “total branching efficiency”, the “sectorial branching efficiency”, and the “total relative vigour” indexes were also calculated from the previous measurements. In addition, olive yield recorded for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 (respectively, the third, fourth, and fifth years from planting) are shown in order to provide a more exhaustive description of the features of the cultivars. Giulia ® and Oliana ® resulted in being more similar to Arbequina and Arbosana, presenting a compact shape of the canopy and high and regular ramification of primary and secondary branches. FS-17 ® showed a higher expansion in canopy volume and higher vigour than the other cultivars, features that suggest it can be more susceptible to damage during mechanical harvest. Regarding the elaborated indexes, “total branching frequency” resulted in being not statistically different among the cultivars. “Sectorial branching frequency” resulted in being higher in the middle sector of the trunk height (51–100 cm) for all the tested cultivars. This study supplies helpful information about the different canopy and branch architectural characteristics of the five studied olive cultivars with respect to their suitability to high-density plantations.

Keywords: central leader; branching; Arbequina; Arbosana; Oliana ®; Giulia ®; FS-17 ® (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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