Long-term evolution of flowering time in apricot cultivars grown in southern France: which future impacts of global warming?

International audience; The evolution of flowering time in apricot cultivars grown in different French growing areas over the last 22 years was examined. This highlighted important fluctuations between years but similar evolutions between areas and cultivars of different origins. It indicates a determining influence of yearly climatic conditions. The analysis of yearly fluctuations in terms of chilling and heat requirements, on the basis of floral primordia growth, suggests that different impacts of global warming could arise in the future. An improvement of flowering-time modelling is also suggested.