Impacts of Superabsorbent Polymer and Mycorrhiza on Some Vegetative Growth and Phytochemical Characteristics of Olive Seedlings Sorani Cultivar

Water deficit was an important factor among abiotic factors that reduced plant growth in water-scarce areas. Thus, this study evaluated the effect of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) compared to fully irrigated and non-irrigated one-year-old olive seedlings. The highest significant values in vegetative growth were stem elongation (15.07 cm), shoot diameter (0.71 mm), lateral shoots number (5.00), leaves number (90.67) and vegetative dry matter (53.78%) recorded by T0, and non-irrigated seedlings T1 recorded maximum significant value in root number (14) and root length (40.83 cm). Also, T0 resulted in the lowest soluble sugar content (147.19 μg g-1 LFW), antioxidant (22.88 μg g-1 LFW), and proline (12.77 μg g-1 LFW). Besides, T8 caused the highest number of mycorrhizal spores (34.33 Spore 100 g-1 DWS), and root colonization (72.33%). The observed results suggested that seedling under T8 condition avoided olive seedlings from water-stress such as fully irrigated seedlings T0. Hence, T8 can be recommended as a treatment for olive seedlings exposed to drought or cultivated without irrigation.