Dynamics of dry matter partitioning in young ‘Nocellara del Belice’ olive trees

Abstract

Dry matter partitioning of ‘Nocellara del Belice’ olive (Olea europaea L.) trees was assessed during one growing season. Four three-year-old potted trees from rooted cuttings trained to single-trunk free-canopy were destructively harvested at 30-day intervals during the growing season. The average dry matter increase was about 2 kg · year-1 per tree. Total plant dry weight increased linearly over the year, whereas root to shoot ratio followed a quadratic trend with its peak during winter. Dry matter of all canopy parts (trunk, branches, 1-year-old shoots, and leaves) increased linearly and leaves exhibited the fastest growth. Also fine roots accumulated dry matter over the year in a linear fashion, whereas dry matter of coarse roots increased until the end of January and then leveled off. On the average, 31% of the total dry mass was partitioned to the roots (20% coarse and 11% fine), 28% to the leaves, 14% to shoot axes, 7% to two-years-old wood, and 14% to main trunk. Trunk cross-sectional area was positively related to both root and shoot dry weight, and proves to be a good indicator of above- and below-ground vegetative growth in young olive trees.