PJB-2023-1538
Innate strategic potential of olive trees to mitigate drought in water deficit regimes
Ghulam Sarwar, Muhammad Shafique Chaudhary and Moazzam Jamil
Abstract
Olive is becoming most interesting for cultivation in arid and semiarid areas owing to its economic significance, drought tolerance, and capacity to withstand shallow poor-quality soils beyond the Mediterranean Region. The study area was not included among the suitable areas for olive cultivation during the first phase in Pakistan. The evaluation of olive germplasm under water deficit at new climatic zones has become a dire need of the moment under the climate change scenario. The present study was designed to evaluate the natural adaptability potential of olive cultivars of diverse geographical origins to water scarcity in the study area. Four selected cultivars (BARI-1, Ottobratica, Leccino, and BARI-2) were grown under hotter and dryer climates and subjected to four water deficit levels (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% field capacity). The effects of olive cultivars, water deficit levels, and their interactions on the following parameters were estimated using standard protocols. The extent of all considered parameters was diversely affected and significantly different among the cultivars except chlorophyll contents. The highest amounts of TFA, TSS, POD, and APX were found in BARI-1, followed by Leccino, Ottobratica, and BARI-2. Leccino was better than BARI-1 in proline, SOD, and CAT, while BARI-2 occupied the lowest rank. The highest protein contents and chlorophyll were found in BARI-2 and Ottobratica, respectively, compared to others. The pattern of variation among all the above parameters was highly significant and directly correlated with the deficit levels except protein contents. TSP decreased with increasing water deficit, while all other parameters increased with increasing water stress. There was no significant difference between 75% and 50% FC levels in chlorophyll contents. The highest value of proline and the augmented activities of POD and APX were found in Leccino at 25% FC, while CAT activity in the same cultivar was higher at 75% FC. 25% FC announced the utmost parts of TFA, TSS, and SOD activity in Bari-1. 75% FC showed the highest rate of TSP in Bari-2 and chlorophyll contents by 75% FC in Ottobratica. Generally, based on observations, all studied cultivars seem to be drought tolerant, while Leccino, Bari-1, Bari-2, and Ottobratica were more tolerant from one another, respectively, and may survive under water deficit conditions (25% FC) successfully at the climate of the study area
To Cite this article:
Sarwar, G., M.S. Chaudhary and M. Jamil. 2023. Innate strategic potential of olive trees to mitigate drought in water deficit regimes. Pak. J. Bot., 55(SI): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2023-SI(5)
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