AEROBIOLOGY OF THE OLIVE (Olea europaea L.) IN THE SOUTHWEST OF BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE, ARGENTINA

MURRAY, M. G.; MORMENEO, I.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; 9th International Congress on Aerobiology; 2010

International Association for Aerobiology

Related information between the reproductive phenology of species and their pollen in the atmosphere has important implications, not only for allergies but also for phenological, climatological and production studies. The olive (Olea europaea L.) is a species that is adapted to Mediterranean conditions. The area of cultivation has expanded widely over the last few years in the southwest of Buenos Aires province. The objective of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of the pollen content of the surrounding atmosphere and the phenology of flowering of the olive. The observations were made in the Rumaroli olivegrove, on Route 3, in the county of Coronel Dorrego. The phenology of flowering of ten olive trees, of the Arbequina variety, was recorded weekly during 2008. An aerobiological control was carried out simultaneously during November, using a volumetric impact sampler placed in the olivegrove. The aerobiological data obtained during the flowering period in 2008 showed a clear coincidence with phase F (flowers open). The maximum peak of emision occured on 13th November (318 grains/m3 air), date immediately after to the occurrence of phase F. The values were maintained above 10 grains/m3 air and the main pollen season ended on 24th November. The influence of meteorological variables on the concentration of airborne olive pollen was studied and it was seen that the date of peak flowering of the olive coincided with the greatest production of pollen captured in the air.