ZONING GOJI BERRY, MULBERRY, KIWI AND PAWPAW SPECIES IN ROMANIA, IN THE CONDITIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGES

Abstract

The warming trends of Romania's climate create increasingly favorable conditions for the cultivation of some new and subtropical species. However, the absolute minimum temperatures in the winter period do not follow a statistically assured increasing trend in all months, and this is not similar throughout the country. The objective of this work was to identify the areas in Romania where the climatic conditions are suitable for growing goji berry (Lycium barbarum L. and L. chinense Mill.), mulberry (Morus rubra L. and M. alba L.), kiwi (Actinidia deliciousa A. Chev., A. arguta Siebold & Zucc and A. kolomikta Rupr. et Maxim.) and pawpaw species (Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal), by using mathematical models. The areas where the minimum and cardinal temperatures of the growing season, its duration and annual rainfall are the most suitable for the growth and development of new species have been identified. The winter absolute minimum temperatures were recorded with a probability of 25%, which falls below the frost resistance limit of the species Actinidia deliciousa A. Chev. (-17°C), Lycium chinense Mill. (-23°C) and Lycium barbarum L. (-25°C), represented the limiting climatic factor of the spatial distribution of these species. Most of Romania's territory, except for mountainous areas, is suitable for growing mulberry, pawpaw (Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal), Actinidia kolomikta Rupr. et Maxim. and Actinidia arguta Siebold & Zucc species, which have frost hardiness limits of -28°C, -30°C, -39°C and -31°C respectively. Irrigation of all studied crops increased the whole country's average suitability score from 1.56 to 2.35 in the 0-4 range (0 unsuitable and 4 highly suitable) and expanded the areas of species' suitability. The heterogeneity and dynamics of climatic factors on the territory of Romania emphasize the importance of models for computing climate suitability as a decision tool in the establishment of goji berry, mulberry, kiwi, and pawpaw orchards.