ABSTRACT
Pistacia vera (L.) is the only species exploited commercially. It is native to East Asia and the Mediterranean basin. Pistacia is a genus of the Anacardiaceae, which also comprises the tropical cashew and mango, and the poison ivy and poison oak. Only Pistacia vera is of importance for the production of its fruit. Pistacia is dioecious; staminate and pistillate inflorescences borne on different individuals of a population. Flowering in Pistacia vera seedlings is usually delayed 5 to 8 years, although male seedlings may flower slightly earlier. Pistachio trees make little shoot growth during the first 2 years, and even clonal trees propagated on seedling rootstocks usually require at least 4 to 5 years before flowering commences. Relatively few studies have been conducted with Pistacia species and the commercially grown Pistacia vera L. The high chilling requirements of most P. vera cvs may modify flowering response as well as time and duration of anthesis.
