FLOWERING BEHAVIOR OF FRENCH OLIVE CULTIVAR ‘PICHOLINE’ UNDER SYRIAN COAST CONDITIONS

The study was conducted in Bouka center for research and plant production, Syria, in order to study flowering behavior of French olive cultivar ‘Picholine’. Average number of flowers per inflorescence, pistil abortion (%) and fertile inflorescence (%) were studied in three positions of flowering shoots (apical, middle and basal position) in 2018 and 2019 seasons. Chilling units, flowering dates and growing degree days were also estimated in 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. Results showed that the number of flowers per inflorescence was not changing between seasons, but it was influenced by inflorescence position on the shoot. Pistil abortion was significantly lower in the basal position compared to inflorescences located in the apical and middle position of the shoots. Ratio between the number of flowers per inflorescence and the number of flowers with aborted pistils differed depending on inflorescence position on the shoot and season. In total, the number of flowers per inflorescence was responsible for 11% of the variation in pistil abortion in 2018, and 37% in 2019 season. Chilling units differed considerably among seasons, 2018 had the lowest chilling units, while 2017 had the highest. ‘Picholine’ flowered regularly even under low chilling conditions showing to have lower chilling requirements and consequently could adapt well to areas with relatively warm winters. This could be an advantage under global climatic change.