Variation in Flower Bud Differentiation and Progression of Floral Organs with Respect to Crop Load in Olive

Abstract

The differentiation of olive floral buds during winter is strictly correlated with flowering in the spring and ultimately with fruit production in autumn and the determination of the time of flower bud induction is important for determining the possible causes of alternate bearing and for improving management practices to correct alternate bearing. The aim of this research was to study the time of flower bud differentiation and developmental steps in the ‘Gemlik’ olive cultivar in 2008 (off year) and 2009 (on year). The sequence of initiation of the floral organs in each flower bud was sepals, stamens, petals, and gynoecium. There was no visible difference between the time of differentiation and the developmental stage of the floral organs with respect to the ‘on’ and ‘off’ years during the study.