Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most important food crop for human consumption, underlining the need for increased production to satisfy rising population demands. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of olive leaf extract (OLE) as an organic biostimulant on the growth and productivity of wheat plants, focusing on physio-biochemical and anatomical traits during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. OLE was applied at three concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0%), along with distilled water as a control, first as a grain soak and then as a foliar spray on 45-day-old plants. Results indicated that all OLE concentrations significantly enhanced root and shoot growth parameters, except for root/shoot and leaf area ratios, which decreased. OLE treatments also increased photosynthetic pigments in the flag leaf, as well as NPK, crude protein, and total carbohydrates in shoots compared to untreated plants. Anatomically, OLE treatments positively enhanced different studied anatomical features of the main stem and the flag leaf. The most important enhancements were the increased cross-sectional area of vascular bundles and the mesophyll tissue. These physio-anatomical alterations are consistent with the higher grain yield and quality. Among the treatments, 2.0% OLE proved most effective in both seasons. The study recommends using 2.0% OLE as an organic biostimulant to improve wheat growth and productivity while reducing reliance on synthetic growth regulators and inorganic fertilizers.
Wanas, A., & Bazeed, Z. (2025). Olive leaf extract application enhances wheat productivity through improving growth, anatomical traits, and source-sink relationships. Journal of Environmental Studies, 39(1), 45-54. doi: 10.21608/jesj.2025.396108.1138
MLA
Ahmed Lotfy Wanas; Zeinab Hesham Bazeed. "Olive leaf extract application enhances wheat productivity through improving growth, anatomical traits, and source-sink relationships", Journal of Environmental Studies, 39, 1, 2025, 45-54. doi: 10.21608/jesj.2025.396108.1138
HARVARD
Wanas, A., Bazeed, Z. (2025). 'Olive leaf extract application enhances wheat productivity through improving growth, anatomical traits, and source-sink relationships', Journal of Environmental Studies, 39(1), pp. 45-54. doi: 10.21608/jesj.2025.396108.1138
VANCOUVER
Wanas, A., Bazeed, Z. Olive leaf extract application enhances wheat productivity through improving growth, anatomical traits, and source-sink relationships. Journal of Environmental Studies, 2025; 39(1): 45-54. doi: 10.21608/jesj.2025.396108.1138
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