Olive orchards in south hemisphere: freezing resistance in the context of climate change.

ARIAS NADIA; PARRA GISELLA; BUCCI SANDRA; SCHOLZ FABIAN

Saitoma

Seminario; 12th International Plant Cold Hardiness Seminar; 2021

Low temperatures and drought are two of the main factors that affect growth, productivity anddistribution of many crops. The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is a traditional crop in the MediterraneanBasin considered one of the best adapted species to the Mediterranean climate. However, in the last 20years, interest in olive oil has expanded olive cultivation to countries outside the Mediterranean Basinsuch as Australia, China, India, and South America. In some of these new area?s olives are exposed todrought and low temperatures throughout the year. During summer olive tolerates water deficit andexhibited osmotic and elastic adjustments that improve drought tolerance. During winter olive tissuesdo not tolerate ice formation and present supercooling as the main mechanism to resist lowtemperatures. Drought and low temperatures significantly reduce leaf water potentials and olive treesexhibited symptoms of dehydration that could affect growth and productivity. The aim of this workwas to describe morphological and physiological responses of 5 olive cultivars in terms of theirresistance to low temperatures in coast areas of Chubut, Argentina. The LT50 varied between -12.71±0.56 in Barnea y -16.18±0.34 in Arbequina cultivars. Under natural conditions of Patagonian steppeolive cultivars produced flowers and fruits of excellent quality.