Thermal adaptability of olive (Olea europaea L.) to the Arid Chaco of Argentina

In Argentina, the proposed expansion of olive growing into areas ecologically different from areas where commercial plantations now exist, carries a high probability of failure. Temperatures in the Chaco ecosystem may not be conducive to olive production. Thus, the effects of temperatures on flowering and fruiting on olive trees were investigated using a model of thermal adaptability. The model evaluated vernalization periods for 19 sites of Argentina, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Spain and USA, using maximum mean temperatures of < 21.1 and > 12.5 degreesC and minimum mean temperatures of < 12.5 and >0.0 degreesC. The probability of obtaining temperatures included within limits for each 10-day period during the vernalization interval was calculated. Daily probability and the number of days within each period were taken as binomial parameters and outlined as binomial modes. To determine the probability of high temperature damage during flowering within each region, temperatures equal to or higher than 37.8 degreesC were considered. To determine damage produced by late frost, temperature equal to or below 0 degreesC that occurred during flowering within each region was considered. Analysis of thermal information for olive sites proposed for the Arid Chaco indicates important differences from traditional olive growing sites. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B,V. All rights reserved.