The Influence of Temperature on Floral Initiation in the Olive

Floral initiation is completely inhibited when the olive is grown in a glasshouse at a minimum temperature of 16°C and a maximum temperature of 27°–30°C but occurs when it is grown at natural winter conditions in California. This study was undertaken to determine more specifically the temperature requirements for flowering and to show the relation of temperature treatment to hud development and floral initiation. Results of experiments performed with trees in containers grown at constant temperatures in controlled environment growth rooms show that the optimum temperature for flowering is 10°–13°C. Either higher (18°C) or lower (4°C) temperatures inhibit flowering completely. Morphological studies show that axis elongation and floral initiation occur in buds during temperature treatment at 10°C and 13°C but fail to occur during 4°C or 18°C treatments, or following these treatments when the temperature is raised to 21°C. When plants were exposed to 13°C for varying durations, it was found that no inflorescences formed after a 7.5 week exposure but that many formed after an 11-week exposure. A subsequent experiment showed that many more inflorescences formed after a 10-week exposure at 13°C than after 9 weeks exposure. Morphological changes in the bud seem to be associated with this increase in flowering affected by duration of treatment.