Estimating chilling duration from daily temperature extremes and elevation in Isreal

Abstract

Deciduous plants require chilling temperatures in winter in order to complete the rest phase of dormancy and to enable normal renewed growth. Models were developed from limited Israeli records of hourly temperatures for estimating chilling temperatures at more widely available stations recording maximum and minimum temperatures. Models and maps were created not only for the traditional definition of chilling temperatures, I.e. hours below 7.2OC, but also for hours below 8.4 "C and 10.4 "C. These data will be useful for both operational care and planning future plantings of deciduous crops.