Vol. 82 No: 5

Title:
Seasonal changes in water relations and gas exchange in leaves of two Tunisian olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars under water deficit

Authors:
M. GUERFEL, B. BACCOURI, D. BOUJNAH and M. ZARROUK

pp: 721-726

Abstract:
Water relation parameters, leaf CO₂ assimilation rates, stomatal conductance (g_s), internal CO₂ concentrations (C_I), and stomatal density were studied in two major Tunisian olive cultivars, ‘Chemlali’ and ‘Chetoui’, under rain-fed, or rain-fed plus a moderate level of supplemental irrigation, conditions. Measurements were carried out throughout the season from January – September 2005, on 1-year-old leaves. CO₂ assimilation rates showed substantial seasonal variation, but were similar in the two cultivars, with higher values during the Spring and lower values during the Summer. Stomatal conductance (g_s) followed a similar trend to leaf CO₂ assimilation rates, with an increase in March, followed by a decrease during August. ‘Chetoui’ had the highest leaf CO₂ assimilation rate and g_s value (24.26 μmol m^–2 s^–1 and 0.35 mol m^–2 s^–1, respectively); but, compared to the supplementalirrigation treatment, ‘Chemlali’ had a higher resistance to drought stress than ‘Chetoui’.

Full text: JHSB Subscribers     ISHS members & other users
(PDF 164607 bytes)

Go back to previous page