Author Description

This practical manual is an authoritative guide to olive propagation, providing extended information on seed germination, rooting of cuttings, grafting and micropropagation. The authors describe each topic in detail and discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of each procedure. The Olive Propagation Manual has been developed to take into account the future demand for olive oil, which is expected to increase to three million tons annually over the next 10 years. Such volumes will require active farming programs and olive trees for new orchards and the replacement of olive trees in existing orchards. As the olive industry moves from traditional manual methods to mechanised operations, planting stock will need to be developed to meet future challenges. Varietal selection will need to be directed to clones that are early bearing, disease resistant, able to be mechanically harvested, and produce quality fruit and oil. Each of these issues are addressed throughout this book. The Olive Propagation Manual explores historical perspectives, traditional methods and state-of-the-art olive propagation including theoretical explanations and all practical aspects.