Effect of Some Chemical Thinning Agents on Fruit Quality and Oil Content of Manzanillo and Eggizi Shami Olive Cultivars

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted for two successive seasons (2009)(2010) on two olive cultivars (Manzanillo and Eggizi Shami) at a private orchard in the Alex desert road. The aim of study is to investigate the effect of some chemical thinning agents GA3 at concentrations (100,150 and 200 p.p.m), NAA at (100,150 and 200 p.p.m) and Urea at (4, 6, 8 and 10%) on fruit characteristics (fruit length, diameter and weight) and oil content. Chemicals were sprayed at full bloom, five days after full bloom, ten days after full bloom and fifteen days after full bloom. The obtained results showed that chemical thinning agents GA3, NAA and Urea are effective in improving fruit quality and oil content in both studied cultivars. It is applicable to spray Urea as a chemical thinning agent at 4% at ten days after full bloom because it is cheap, effective and as a source of nitrogen supply.