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

ARIAS NADIA SOLEDAD; PARRA GISELA; SANDRA BUCCI; SCHOLZ FABIAN

Congreso; 12th International Plant Cold Hardiness Seminar (IPCHS); 2021

Low temperatures and drought are two of the main factors that affect growth, productivity and distribution of many crops. The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is a traditional crop in the Mediterranean Basin considered one of the best adapted species to the Mediterranean climate. However, in the last 20 years, interest in olive oil has expanded olive cultivation to countries outside the Mediterranean Basin such as Australia, China, India, and South America. In some of these new area’s olives are exposed to drought and low temperatures throughout the year. During summer olive tolerates water deficit and exhibited osmotic and elastic adjustments that improve drought tolerance. During winter olive tissues do not tolerate ice formation and present supercooling as the main mechanism to resist low temperatures. Drought and low temperatures significantly reduce leaf water potentials and olive trees exhibited symptoms of dehydration that could affect growth and productivity. The aim of this work was to describe morphological and physiological responses of 5 olive cultivars in terms of their resistance 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 steppe olive cultivars produced flowers and fruits of excellent quality.