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In this 4-year study, the effects of (a) sustainable soil management with weed mowing during spring and addition of compost without tillage (SUST) and (b) intensive management with soil tillage and use of herbicides (INT) on soil properties related to water storage and salinity were determined in a drip-irrigated olive orchard in Crete, Greece. Higher annual levels of soil moisture were observed in SUST (+12%) as compared with INT, as well as in the rainy period (October–March) (+40%) as compared with the irrigation period (April–September). Mean soil moisture content was increasing by soil depth. Soil pH was unaffected while increased electrical conductivity was observed in the superficial soil layer (0–10 cm), as compared with deeper soil layers as well as in SUST, as compared with INT. The present study describes a sustainable olive orchard management system that reduces soil erosion risk, enhances water storage in the root zone and, through mineral nutrient recovery at the local scale, contributes to energy savings by reducing use of chemical fertilizers.

Olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae(Gmelin) (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestation levels were quantified in rainfed adult olive (Olea europaeaL.) (Lamiales: Oleaceae) trees of seven cultivars originating from Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal and France to determine their relationships with fruit length, width, weight, oil and mineral element content and to investigate the effects of infestation on fruit properties. Fruit from the cultivars Koroneiki, Mastoidis, Picholine, Manzanilla, Arbequina, Branquitaand Leccinowas collected in November 2013 in Greece. Marked genotypic variation was observed for both total and alive fruit infestation with Manzanillabeing the most susceptible and Arbequinathe most resistant among the cultivars studied. Marked differences were recorded in the fruit mineral element content between the cultivars studied. B. oleaeinfestation was positively correlated with the fruit length, width, fresh weight, and K and Fe content. Also, B. oleaeinfestation caused significant changes in the P, K, Fe and Mg concentration in fruits, while an overall decreasing trend was observed for N. B. oleaeinfestation caused no significant changes in the fruit oil content of the studied cultivars. Results presented in this study supplemented with targeted integrated research on breeding resistant genotypes and developing improved pest control tools could contribute to important savings of resources as well as improvement of yields and food quality and safety.

Factors affecting successful establishment in vitro, rapid proliferation and rooting of apricot cultivar ‘Bebecou’ were studied. Ethanol and NaOCl were applied in several combinations for disinfection; chilling, plant growth regulators BA, IAA and GA3, antibiotics, different culture vessels and systems of subculture were evaluated for the optimization of shoot proliferation and the auxins NAA and IBA were assessed for root induction. The highest number of new microshoots/explant (18.7) was obtained in a culture medium supplemented with 2.2 μM BA+0.57 μM IAA after 300 h of chilling. The effect of GA3(11.4 μM) on shoot proliferation was positive in combination with 4.4 or 8.9 μM BA. Shoot length and productivity were highest at 2.2 μM BA+11.4 μM GA3+0.57 μM IAA and at 2.2 μM BA+0.57 μM IAA, respectively and decreased as cytokinin concentration increased. The antibiotic ‘Na-cefotaxime’ had a minimal impact on shoot growth when used at the lowest concentration (250 mg l−1). Subculture every 2 weeks in a medium supplemented with 2.2 μM BA and 0.57 μM IAA was more efficient for shoot induction than alternation of 20 days culture in a propagation medium supplemented with 2.2 μM BA and 10 days culture in an elongation medium supplemented with 1.1 μM BA and 5.71 μM IAA. The highest number of roots/shoot (8.1) was recorded at 19.6 μM IBA.