EVALUATION OF SOME OLIVE CULTIVARS GROWN UNDER EGYPTIAN CONDITIONS

This study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2005 and 2006 on three olive cultivars (Toffahi, Kroniaki and Picual) grown under newly reclaimed soil in Egypt to evaluate fruit production as well as the physical and chemical properties of the olives. The obtained data revealed that Kroniaki produced a higher yield per tree (44.2 Kg) while Toffahi and Picual gave 37.8 and 36.2 Kg as a mean of two seasons, respectively. The data also reveal that pollen viability and fruit set percentage of Kroniaki were higher than those obtained from Toffahi or Picual. Whereas, average fruit weight and size of Toffahi was higher than Picual and Kroniaki. Furthermore, Kroniaki cultivar produced a higher oil content 49.9 % compared to Picual 40.4 % and Toffahi 20.4 % based on dry weight. Yet, Picual gave a higher soluble solids with lower acidity than those obtained form Kroniaki and Toffahi cultivars.