CLIMATE-PHENOLOGY RELATIONSHIPS ON OLIVE CV FRANTOIO

Climate phenology relationships were studied in olive trees of the cv Frantoio grown in Tuscany (Follonica). The phenological stages were followed from bud burst through to fruit growth and ripening; shoot elongation was also recorded, as were the main climatic parameters of the growing area. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. The most important biological processes take place during a period when the trees are submitted to water deficiency. 2. Shoot elongation is correlated to the average monthly temperature and presents two moments of great intensity; the second coincides with full flowering. 3. Bud induction and differentiation is already active in October of the year preceding flowering. 4. Fruit growth and lipogenesis proceed slowly. 5. Fruit drop takes place at the same time as the fruit begin to grow and becomes more intense towards the end of December. 6. The maximum quantity of oil is harvested in mid-November, approximately 200 days