Morphophysiological and anatomical responses of Quercus suber L. seedlings under drought stress conditions

english

2025

volume 121, issue 4

cork oak   drought stress   ecogeographical zones   root vessel diameter

Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

This study was performed to investigate the effects of drought stress on behavior of cork oak seedlings (Quercus suber L) originatd from five different ecogeographical zones in Algeria (Tlemcen, Oum Tboul, Jijel, Dradra, Tizi Ouzou). The resilts showed that drought stress affected both the height and collar diameter, relative growth in height and diameter of stems in provenances Oum Tboul, Tlemcen and Tizi Ouzou, also a decrease in leaf number and fresh and dry masses, shoot to root dry mass ratio and the relative water content for all stressed plants from all provenances. However, it has been noted a significant increase in length of the main root in all provenances. As well as a decrease in the total chlorophyll and carotenoids contents and increase in proline content especially in Tizi Ouzou and Tlemcen provenances under water limitation. Moreover, the anatomical study revealed a reduction in vessel diameter of rootsin all stressed plants from all provenances. The five cork oak provenances studied showed different morpho-physiological and anatomical traits that could be linked to the environnemental conditions of provenances.

19.01.2026