Physiological Responses of Olive Trees under Different Environmental Conditions

Dear Colleagues,

The ability of olive trees to grow and produce adequate yields depends on a number of environmental factors such as air temperature, precipitation, air humidity, solar radiation and soil type. Evaluation of how the physiology and yield of olive trees respond to different environmental conditions is critical for both the continuing expansion of olive growing in regions outside the Mediterranean Basin and due to global climate change. Although olive trees can survive a wide range of air temperature and water availability conditions, flowering and fruit set have demonstrated high sensitivity to environmental conditions. Fruit growth and oil production are also affected. The lack of precipitation at certain times of the year can be compensated for by irrigation management strategies and other means to some degree, but physiological measurements such as stem water potential, trunk diameter fluctuations or stomatal conductance are needed for these strategies to be successful. Already high air temperatures in some regions and increasing temperatures in other areas are particularly challenging to mitigate, and information on how the phenology and physiology of specific cultivars respond to air temperature is often not available. The trend of increased plant density in new orchards, including super high density, also requires a better understanding of the role that the environment has.  In this Special Issue, all submissions that provide new and original information on olive growing and physiology under different environmental conditions will be considered.  Submissions related to the role of crop management or cultivar selection under different conditions will also be welcomed. 

Dr. María Cecilia Rousseaux
Guest Editor

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• crop phenology
• global climate change
• irrigation
• physiology
• temperature
• yield