Flower Production in Olive as Influenced by Various Chilling Temperature Regimes1,2

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Abstract
Controlled low temperature chilling caused flower initiation in container-grown olive (Olea europaea L.) trees at any time of the year. Optimum inflorescence production under controlled conditions occurred after exposure for 70 to 80 days to a diurnal sine wave temperature pattern, with a 2°C minimum and a 15°C maximum. These same temperatures, but changing abruptly from one to another failed to cause inflorescence formation. A constant intermediate temperature of 12.5°C was also effective in causing flower formation, but a continuous constant low temperature (7°C), or continuously high temperatures above 15°C failed to cause infloresence formation. The cv. Ascolano produced inflorescences under a wider range of temperature patterns than did ‘Manzanillo’. Irregular bearing behavior of olives in California's Central Valley could not be attributed to varying winter chilling patterns. There was no correlation over a 7-year period between amount of winter chilling and subsequent crop size. Sufficient chilling occurs even in warmest winters there for ample flower initiation.

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