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Climatic indices in the interpretation of the phenological phases of the olive in mediterranean areas during its biological cycle

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Abstract

The present study implemented a regional phenological model that was derived through the growing season index and adapted to a widespread Mediterranean species, the olive (Olea europaea L.). This model considers not only individual phenological events, but also the main vegetative and reproductive phenological phases of the species, in an integrated biological approach. The regional model generally does not need to include specific meteorological variables calculated as weekly or monthly averages which could limit the extrapolation over large areas. The main climatic limitations of the olive cultivation areas in the south Mediterranean at latitudes around 10° (practically speaking, the geographical limits of the olive) are estimated here. This analysis uses information relating to local climatic changes over the last two decades (1990–1999, 2000–2009) to provide interpretations of the temperature, solar radiation rate, and evapotranspiration trends. This has allowed creation of a Mediterranean phenological model adapted to the olive, which presents the contemporary climate requirements during winter and the warm summer season. The climate analysis and comparisons of these two decades has allowed us to reveal a reduction in the index according to the minimum temperature, which has particular consequences in the northern monitoring areas. This phenomenon appears to present new positive scenarios for the future regarding a northward shift of olive cultivation areas, due to the potential enlargement of the growing season in winter. However, negative scenarios can also be foreseen in consideration of the failure to satisfy the minimum chilling requirements in the traditional southern cultivation areas of the olive.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the European Social Fund for co-financing with the Spanish Science Ministry the project Fenoclim CGL2011-24146 and. Dr. García Mozo grant supported by a “Ramón y Cajal” contract. Also authors thanks to International Olive Committee (IOC) for the project PEA/CFC/IOC/07 and to the Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID) the financed projects A/018023/08, A 02509/09 and CAP 11-CAP2-0932

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Biology, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy

    F. Orlandi, B. Romano & M. Fornaciari

  2. Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain

    H. Garcia-Mozo, C. Galán & E. Dominguez-Vilches

  3. Institut de l’Olivier, B.P. 208, Tunis, 1082, Tunisia

    A. Ben Dhiab, M. Msallem & M. Abichou

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  1. F. Orlandi
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  2. H. Garcia-Mozo
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  4. C. Galán
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  5. M. Msallem
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  6. B. Romano
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  8. E. Dominguez-Vilches
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  9. M. Fornaciari
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Correspondence to F. Orlandi.

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Orlandi, F., Garcia-Mozo, H., Dhiab, A.B. et al. Climatic indices in the interpretation of the phenological phases of the olive in mediterranean areas during its biological cycle. Climatic Change 116, 263–284 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-012-0474-9

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