The vigour of 112 cultivars planted in March 1987 in the World Olive Germplasm Bank of CIFA "Alameda del Obispo", Cordoba, Spain has been evaluated. Ten years after their planting time their tree fructifying surfaces varied from 16 to 78 m(2), with an average value of 47 m(2). The trunk cross-section areas varied from 140 to 630 cm, with an average of 358 cm(2). By taking into account both parameters, the cultivars have been classified into four vigor categories: A, high, for both fructifying surface and trunk cross-section area above the related averages; M-1 and M-2, medium, for high fructifying surface and low trunk cross-section area and low fructifying surface and high trunk cross-section area, respectively; and B, low, for both parameters below the related averages. The rankings of cultivars as per their fructifying surfaces 4 and 5 years after planting time were little related with that of 10 years after same date (r = 0.56*** and 0.59***). However, the classifications were stabilized enough from the 6(th) year on (r = 0.74***-0.90***). Something similar took place with the trunk cross-section areas. These data indicate that for selecting or classifying cultivars for vigor the trees must be at least 6 years old. No relationship has been found between the cultivars fructifying surfaces and their precocity of entry into bearing. The first crop took place fom the 4(th) to the 8(th) year after planting, with the fructifying surfaces going from 5 to 39 m(2).
