Antitranspirant Effects on the Water Status of ‘Manzanillo’ Olive Trees1

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The water balance of both irrigated and unirrigated olive (Olea europaea L. cv. Manzanillo) trees was improved by spraying a film-forming antitranspirant (AT). This was evidenced by increased resistance to water vapor diffusion from the leaves, reduced daytime shrinkage of limbs, and increased leaf and fruit water potential. The improvement in plant water potential by AT was equivalent to the effect of an irrigation. Transpiration at night through incompletely closed stomates, especially when night humidity was low, retarded normal nocturnal rehydration of the olive limbs and fruit. The improved water balance of AT-treated olive trees indicated a potential for increasing fruit growth.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: