Sarhad J . Agric. Vol.29, No.

1, 2013

RESPONSE OF OLIVE CULTIVARS TO ROOTING THROUGH AIR
LAYERING IN DIFFERENT GROWTH MEDIA

RAFI UR REHMAN
1
, ABRAR HUSSAIN SHAH
1
,
AZMAT ALI AWAN
1
and HAMMAD ALI
2


1
Department of Horticulture, The University of Agriculture , Peshawar Pakistan.
2
Department of Water Management Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University, Peshawar- Pakistan.

ABSTRACT
An experiment on Response of olive cultivars to rooting through air layering in different growth
media was conducted at Pakistan Oilseed Development Board (PODB), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa research facility at
Tarnab, Peshawar, Pakistan during 2010. Air layering was done in June on different cultivars (Coratina, Leccino,
Pendalino, Baincullela, Uslu and Sevalino) in different media (sawdust, silt, garden soil and sawdust +silt +garden
soil). The experiment was laid out on a randomized complete block designs with split plot arrangements having
three replications. The research revealed significantly different results for days to rooting, number of roots per
plant, root length, root diameter and percent survival among the cultivars. Similarly different growth media also
significantly affected most of the parameters studied. Maximum root length (3.35cm), root diameter (0.15cm)
percent survival (60%) and minimum days to rooting were recorded for cultivar Coratina (28), while, the maximum
days to rooting were noted in cultivar Baincullela (37). However, the minimum number of roots plant
-1
(5.16), root
length (2.31cm), root diameter (0.12cm) and percent survival (42.50%) were recorded in cultivar Baincullela. As
regards the effect of different media, the maximum number of roots (8.27), root length (3.28cm), root diameter
(0.15cm) and percent survival (67.22%), and minimum days to rooting (27.11) were recorded in silt. While, the
minimum number of roots plant
-1
(5.22), root length (2.03cm), root diameter (0.11cm), percent survival (37.22%),
and maximum days to rooting (37.22) were observed in sawdust media. On the basis of these results cultivar
Coratina and Silt as a rooting medium were found thebest and hence recommended for rooting of olive cultivars
through air layering.
Key words: Olive, Olea europaea, Rooting, Air layering, Growth media
Citation: Rehman. R.U., A.H. Shah, A.A. Awan and H. Ali. 2013. Response of olive cultivars to rooting through
air layering in different growth media. Sarhad J. Agric. 29(1):1-5.
INTRODUCTION
Olive (Olea europaea) locally known as Zaitoon is an attractive evergreen tree with grey-green foliage. It
belongs to family Oleaceae, having 30 different species (Simmonds, 1976).
Olive can be propagated through sexual and asexual methods. Air layering is a method of producing plants
from aerial branches which remain in position while rooting. Some plants which are difficult to root, air layering
has been proven as an effective method in a wide range of species as a means of increasing their kind. The moist
medium for rooting is usually placed around the wounded area of the branch. It is held in position by placing a
wrapping around the periphery of the ball of the medium. After the roots have grown to the outside of the ball of
medium, the branch is removed and planted in a pot on its own roots.
The growth, establishment and survival of branches and seedling also depend on the quality of a grow
medium. There are many commercial growing media used to raise seedlings and branches, but many are expensive
and locally unavailable. These have to be imported from elsewhere and this makes them expensive. There is a need
to establish appropriate and low cost growing media to ensure that the tree seedlings could attain a suitable size for
layering within a year. Amending growing media with fertilizer can promote seedling and branching growth,
establishment and survival (Sileshi et al., 2007). In nursery production industry, a variety of growing media are in
use worldwide, especially in the ornamental plant production. Growers and nurserymen in Pakistan, specifically of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are not familiar with the propagation of Olive. To solve this problem, the current experiment
was designed in which different planting media were used because, the planting medium is considered to be an
important and necessary factor for the growth and development of a plant. It provides the basic necessities required
by a plant throughout its life. In general, rooting through layering in various types of soil environments influence
rooting significantly due to physical and chemical properties of the media having a pH range conducive to plant
growth, that permit gaseous exchange to provide aeration for the roots and permits water infiltration and its
movement .

Rafi Ur Rehman, et al. Response of Olive cultivars to rooting through air layering 2

MATERIALS AND METHODS
An experiment on Response of olive cultivars to rooting through air layering in different growth
media was conducted at Pakistan Oilseed Development Board (PODB), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Tarnab, Peshawar,
Pakistan during June 2010. Air layering was done in June on different cultivars (Coratina, Leccino, Pendalino,
Baincullela, Uslu and Sevalino) in different media (Saw dust, silt, garden soil and Sawdust + Silt + Garden soil).
The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block designs (RCBD) with split plot arrangements having
three replications. In order to initiate rooting in olive branches, seven year old tree, 24 trees was selected for
layering, 1.5 m branch height and pencil size of each branch for layering, three layering was done in each tree, stem
was wounded by complete removal of ring bark just below the buds in the month of June. Data were collected after
20 days. Different media were surrounded around the injured portion of the branch of olive tree by heavy wrapping
of burlap with plastic sheet. When a good ball of roots had formed, the branches were cut off below the media and
data were recorded for different parameter.
Selection of the Media
Saw dust, silt, garden soil and their mixture was used because of . Before using media it was confirmed that
these were free of pathogens, weeds, pests, nematodes, have good water holding capacity and good drainage.
Different cultivars were allotted to main plots and media were allotted to sub plots shown as follow. Air layering
was done in June on different cultivars (Coratina, Leccino, Pendalino, Baincullela, Uslu and Sevalino) in different
media (Saw dust, silt, garden soil and Sawdust + Silt + Garden soil).
Days to Root Appearance
Total number of days to root appearance and their averages was calculated after the date of air-layering and
media treatments were recorded in each treatment.
Number of Roots Plant
-1

Number of roots plant
-1
data was recorded by cutting air layered shoots and the media attached with roots
were removed and washed with water and the number of root per air layered shoot/plant were counted and the
average was worked out.
Root length (cm)
The length of roots was measured from base to the tips of roots. The averages were calculated after
recording the roots measurement in each replication.
Root Diameter (cm)
The root thickness of primary root part was measured with the help of vernier caliper in centimeter and the
averages were calculated for statistical analysis.
Percent Survival of Plant
At the end of experiment, the plants were counted; survival plant % ages were recorded by the following
formula:
Percent plant survival = Number of survived Plants x 100
Total number of plants
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Days to Rooting
Days to rooting were significantly affected by different types of growing media and different cultivars
(Table 1).The maximum (37days to rooting was recorded in cv Baincullela, which was followed by minimum (28
days) in cv Coratina. The better rooting results of cv Coratina shows its quick ability to rooting than cv Baincullela,
which could be refered to its genotypic ability for regeneration through air layering in a condencive environment. As
regards the various growing media, the rooting was delayed in saw dust (37.22 days) followed by garden soil (34.83
days), while it was earlier in silt media (26.78 days). In case of interactions it was noted that the rooting occurred in
cv Baincullela (40.67) days when saw dust was used. Whereas the rooting occurred earlier in cv Coratina (21.33
days) when silt was used. It seems that saw dust does not have more nutrients as compared to the silt, silt have more
water holding capacity than that of garden soil, thats why silt media showed better results for rooting and our
results are an agreements with the findings of Awan et al, (2002). Who noticed that the rooting was maximum in
FYM, while minimum in sand.
Sarhad J . Agric. Vol.29, No.1, 2013 3

Table 1. Days to root appearance of olive cultivars as affected by different growing media through air layering
Media
Cultivars Saw dust Garden soil Silt
Saw dust:Silt:
Garden soil Mean
Coratina 34.67 29.67 21.33 26.33 28 e
Pendalino 35.33 31.67 23.33 29.67 30de
Leccino 35.67 34 26.33 32.67 32.16cd
Uslu 37.33 36.33 28.67 31 33.33bc
Sevalino 39.67 38 30 33.67 35.33ab
Baincullela 40.67 39.33 33 35 37a
Mean 37.22a 34.83b 26.78d 31.39c
Critical value for media at 5% level of significance = 2.13
Critical value for cultivars at 5% level of significance = 2.66

Roots Plant
-1

Maximum number of roots plant
-1
(9) was observed in cv Pendalino which was followed by cv Coratina
and cv Leccino having 7 roots palnt
-1
both these cultivars were statistically at par with regard to the number of
roots plant
-1
(Table 2). While, the minimum number of roots plant
-1
(5.16) were observed in cv Baincullela. The
better results obtained in cv Pendalino were probably due to the adaptation of this cultivar to our agro-climate.. In
case of growing media maximum number of roots (8.27) was recorded in silt followed by saw dust, garden soil and
silt combination (6.77) while, the minimum roots (5.22) was recorded in saw dust. The silt had more nutrients as
compared to the other media, and the saw dust had less nutrients. The findings of Awan et al, 2002 to some extent
support our results. In case of interactions maximum roots plant
-1
(9.33) was obtained by cv Pendalino having air
layer media combination of sawdust, silt and garden soil. While minimum roots plant
-1
(4) were recorded in cv
Baincullela air layered in saw dust media. The combination of the media enriched with nutrients from silt and
garden soil, increased water holding capacity and proper aeration probably provided an ideal environment to cv
Pendalino to have more roots plant
-1
.
Table 2. Roots plant
-1
of olive cultivars as affected by different growing media through air layering.
Media
Cultivars Saw dust Garden soil Silt
Saw dust: Silt:
Garden soil Mean
Coratina 6 6.67 8 7.33 7b
Pendalino 6.67 8 12 9.33 9a
Leccino 5.33 7 8.67 7 7b
Uslu 5 5.67 8 6 6.16bc
Sevalino 4.33 4.67 6.67 5.67 5.33c
Baincullela 4 5 6.33 5.33 5.16c
Mean 5.22c 6.16bc 8.27a 6.77b
Critical value for media at 5% level of significance = 1.23
Critical value for cultivars at 5% level of significance = 1.36
Root Length
Root length was significantly affected by different types of growing media and different cultivars while, the
interactions between different growing media and cultivars were non significant (Table 3). Maximium root length
(3.35cm) was observed in cv Coratina which was followed by cv Pendalino (2.75cm). While the lowest root length
(2.31cm) was observed in cv Baincullela. The variation among various olive cultivars with regards to the root length
could be referred to the genotypic adaptabilities of regeneration and survival in our agro-climate. In case of growing
media, the maximum root length (3.28cm) was recorded in silt media followed by sawdust, garden soil and silt
combination (2.81cm) while, the minimum root length (2.03cm) was recorded in saw dust. The silt does have more
pore spaces as compared to the garden soil and hence, more nutrients were available. This was followed by the saw
dust media thats why silt showed better results. Similar results have also been reported by Awan et al, 2002. In case
of interactions for root length, maximum root length of 3.97cm was attained by cv Coratina having air layer
combination of saw dust, silt and garden soil. While, the minimum root length (1.83cm) was recorded in air layers of
saw dust placed for cv Leccino (Table 3). Further addition to the stress was caused by the gradual increase in
temperature from 22 to 42
o
C (with 20
o
C difference) and low humidity range (57 to 78%) during the following
months that caused delay in root development and reduced the success percentage in layered branches. On the other
hand, gradual decrease in temperature from 38 to 25
o
C (with 13
o
C difference) and high humidity range (76 to 86%)
from August to December favored early root development and also increased success percentage in the branches
Rafi Ur Rehman, et al. Response of Olive cultivars to rooting through air layering 4

when layering was practiced in August. However, the layered branches did not differ significantly for their survival
after detachment.
Table 3. Root length of olive cultivars as affected by different growing media through air layering
Media
Cultivars Saw dust Garden soil Silt
Saw dust: Silt:
Garden soil Mean
Coratina 2.73 3.23 3.97 3.47 3.35a
Pendalino 1.97 2.57 3.4 3.17 2.75b
Leccino 1.83 2.1 3.13 2.93 2.49bc
Uslu 1.9 2.17 3.1 2.5 2.41bc
Sevalino 1.9 2.07 3.3 2.43 2.42bc
Baincullela 1.87 2.2 2.8 2.4 2.31c
Mean 2.03d 2.39c 3.28a 2.81b
Critical value for media at 5% level of significance = 0.42
Critical value for cultivars at 5% level of significance = 0.31
Root Diameter
Data regarding root diameter (cm) is presented in Table 4. Root diameter was significantly affected by
different types of growing media and different cultivars while the interactions between different growing media and
cultivars were non-significant. The maximum root diameter (0.148 cm) was observed in cv. Coratina followed by
Pendalino having (0.138 cm) while, the minimum root diameter (0.12 cm) was observed in cv. Baincullela. In case
of growing media maximum root diameter (0.15 cm) was recorded in silt media followed by garden soil (0.13 cm)
while, the minimum (0.11cm) was recorded in saw dust. In case of cultivars and media interactions maximum root
diameter (0.17 cm) was attained in cv. Coratina grown in silt while, the minimum (0.11 cm) was recorded in cv.
Baincullela at saw dust . It might have been due to good drainage and high porosity that helped in the development
of excellent root system. Such media enhances apical meristematic activities and also triggers cambial cell division..
It also reflects that these combinations might have provided favorable physical conditions for sufficient nutrients
access to the cuttings which are needed for activating enzymatic and biochemical processes. The results of Wazir et
al, (2003) are also in agreement with our findings who reported that soil media of silt + saw dust gave maximum
number of root diameter in fruit trees propagation through air layering.
Table 4. Root diameter of olive cultivars as affected by different growing media through air layering.
Media
Cultivars Saw dust Garden soil Silt
Saw dust: Silt:
Garden soil Mean
Coratina 0.13 0.14 0.17 0.15 0.148a
Pendalino 0.12 0.13 0.16 0.14 0.138ab
Leccino 0.11 0.13 0.15 0.13 0.13bc
Uslu 0.11 0.12 0.15 0.13 0.13bc
Sevalino 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.13 0.123c
Baincullela 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.12 0.12c
Mean 0.11c 0.13b 0.15a 0.13b
Critical value for media at 5% level of significance = 0.010
Critical value for cultivars at 5% level of significance = 0.014
Percent Plant Survival (%)
Table 5 revealed that percent survival was significantly affected by different cultivars as well as different
types of growing media, while their interactions were non-significant. Maximum percent plant survival (60%) was
observed in cv. Coratina followed by cv. Pendalino (55%) and cv. Leccino(50.83%). The minimum plant survival
(42.5%) was observed in cv. Biancullela which was statistically at par with cultivars Sevallino, Uslu, Leccino and
Pendalino. In case of growing media maximum plant survival (67.22%) was recorded in silt media followed by saw
dust, garden soil and silt combination (54.44%). However, minimum plant survival was recorded in saw dust
(37.22%).The poorest performance of rooted cuttings in saw dust soil might have been due to the nutritionally poor
medium that resulted in the minimum values of all the parameters under study. Mathad and Nalwadi (1989) reported
that decomposed organic material improved soil fertility by increasing soil aeration, water holding capacity and
water infiltration and lower surface crusting. The lesser growth in saw dust also might have been due to the
minimum number of leaves and shoots that reduced the rate of photosynthesis, there by reducing the plant growth
and survival.
Sarhad J . Agric. Vol.29, No.1, 2013 5

Table 5. Percent survival (%) of olive cultivars as affected by different growing media through air layering
Media
Cultivars Saw dust Garden soil Silt
Saw dust: Silt:
Garden soil Mean
Coratina 43.33 50 76.67 70 60a
Pendalino 36.67 46.67 73.33 63.33 55ab
Leccino 40 43.33 70 50 50.83abc
Uslu 36.67 43.33 66.67 50 49.16bc
Sevalino 40 40 60 43.33 45.83bc
Baincullela 26.67 36.67 56.67 50 42.50c
Mean 37.22c 43.33c 67.22a 54.44b
Critical value for media at 5% level of significance = 6.80
Critical value for cultivars at 5% level of significance = 9.53

CONCLUSION
On the basis of the results obtained it is concluded that olive cultivar Coratina seems more suitable for the
environmental conditions of Peshawar and can be best propagated through air layering using silt as rooting media.
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