WATER STRESS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN YOUNG TABLE-OLIVE TREES

The effect of three different water supply amounts (100, 66 and 33% of ETm) on some physiological parameters in three phenological stages during the growth season: fruit setting, pit hardening and inmediatly after the rapid growth stage of the fruit were studied on young table-olive trees growing in lysimeters. The results showed an increase in water potential and a concomitant decrease in transpiration, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance when water supply was reduced. The differences were particularly pronounced at noon, in comparison to the morning or the afternoon. Therefore evidence on the relationship between the severity of water stress and the physiological response of the tree was found.