THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGES ON PHENOLOGICAL PHASES IN PLUM TREE (Prunus domestica L.) IN SOUTH-WESTERN ROMANIA

This paper's aim is to study phenological changes in plum tree species (Prunus domestica L.) that recently appeared in Oltenia region (Romania). It was found that in the years with early spring season and high temperatures, vegetation phenological phases have developed much earlier than in normal years. Analysis of data obtained showed that "flowering time duration" is a feature which is influenced by climatic factor and genetic factor. The influence of meteorological factor is manifested in different years, thus causing, in the same cultivar, different time durations between the beginning and the end of flowering. In general, the earlier the flowering is developing, the shorter its time duration. The studies on the environmental factors' impact on phenology in fruit-tree species are allowing making decisions on forming out suitable assortments for different culture zones, depending on local ecological conditions.