Influence of Climatic Factors on the Phenology of Chokeberry Cultivars Planted in the Pedoclimatic Conditions of Southern Romania

Abstract

This paper aimed to study the adaptation of a crop to the specific climatic conditions of southern Romania, Pitești-Mărăcineni, Romania, in terms of the phenology of two chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) cultivars (‘Melrom’ and ‘Nero’). The BBCH (Biologische Bundesantalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie) scale was used for phenological observations. The recorded data were statistically processed, calculating the average onset time and duration of fruiting phenophases and dormancy duration, average air temperatures, total solar radiation, and the cold and heat accumulation. Bud swelling was registered between 28 January and 8 February, budburst occurred starting on 3 March, while flowering began in stages, between 15 April and 1 May, and was completed between 27 April and 14 May. During the 154 days of 53–87 BBCH, the average air temperature, 16.1 °C, ranged between the extremes of −6.1 and 36.8 °C. The onset data and spring–summer phenophases were mainly related to the minimum air-temperature oscillations. The flowering timing shortened as the maximum temperature and total solar radiation increased. The relation between the environmental factors and the flowering strategy indicates the A. melanocarpa as a species adapted to the temperate continental climate of southern Romania.

Preliminary Results Regarding the Behaviour of Two Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa Michx.) Cultivars in Environmental Conditions of Northern Transylvania

“…'Nero' and 'Melrom' are two of the most commonly cultivated chokeberry cultivars in Romania. The chokeberry cultivars are adapted to different environmental conditions in Romania, even the low temperatures during the dormancy stage (-14.1°C) and bud burst (-6.2°C), as well the high temperatures during the summer did not damage the flower buds as observed and reported by (Diaconescu et al 2022). Chokeberry adaptation to different environmental conditions is a dynamic process, which is correlated with ambient temperatures, solar radiation, rainfall and soil type.…”

Tomato Response Evaluation through Fertilization and PGRs Application under Temperature Differentiation in Late Winter

“…Light, temperature and humidity are the major environmental factors influencing the plant physiological functions [24,25], photosynthesis and hormonal balance [26] and key active processes in plants life [27,28] including the transition from one development stage to the next [29,30,31] . Besides environmental issues, edaphic elements also have remarkable influence on plant growth and development [32] as soil nutrient availability is one of the absolute needs of plants [33,34].…”

Preferable Berry Fruits for Tolerance to Global Climate Change and Dry Conditions

“…Phenological observations obtained a BBCH value of 53-87, while the mean air temperature over 154 days was reported to vary from 6.1 to 36.8°C. At the end of this research, they identified that chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) was a berry fruit species that was adapted to the temperate continental climate of south Romania [53].…”