Articles
Tree-ring isotopic study reveals a different degree of tolerance to summer stress conditions in olive tree cultivars
Article number
1446_19
Pages
135 – 142
Language
English
Abstract
Olive (Olea europaea L.) is a drought-tolerant tree species cultivated in Mediterranean-type environments.
Although it is relatively tolerant to drought, prolonged hot and dry summer conditions can induce stress, leading to decreased yields.
Due to global warming, a significant increase in frequency and severity of drought episodes is predicted in the Mediterranean Region.
Studies about the physiological bases of adaptation/tolerance of olive trees to stress are needed to better understand how various cultivars will cope with climate change.
Adult olive trees of two high-quality cultivars (‘Moraiolo’ and ‘Maurino’) located in an orchard in central Italy were investigated to observe possible differences in growth, fruit production, and tolerance to hot and droughty conditions.
Studies were aimed at different physiological processes such as stomatal sensitivity and photosynthetic capacity.
To study seasonal and interannual responses to climate variability, carbo stable isotope in tree rings and photosynthetic rates were investigated to study carbon fluxes in the two olive cultivars over three growing seasons (2020-2022). The two cultivars differed in
13C patterns during the three years. ‘Maurino’ showed a more limited range of variation in comparison to ‘Moraiolo’. This may be related to different stomatal sensitivity, leading to more limited stress tolerance in ‘Maurino’ with respect to ‘Moraiolo’. In all the years, ‘Moraiolo’ reached significantly lower 13C values in rainy years and higher 13C values in the dry summers 2021 and 2022, indicating a higher stomatal responsiveness and a higher phenotypic plasticity in response to changes in environmental conditions during the vegetative and reproductive season.
This cultivar has the potential to better tolerate thermal variations and drought conditions in response to Mediterranean climate change.
Although it is relatively tolerant to drought, prolonged hot and dry summer conditions can induce stress, leading to decreased yields.
Due to global warming, a significant increase in frequency and severity of drought episodes is predicted in the Mediterranean Region.
Studies about the physiological bases of adaptation/tolerance of olive trees to stress are needed to better understand how various cultivars will cope with climate change.
Adult olive trees of two high-quality cultivars (‘Moraiolo’ and ‘Maurino’) located in an orchard in central Italy were investigated to observe possible differences in growth, fruit production, and tolerance to hot and droughty conditions.
Studies were aimed at different physiological processes such as stomatal sensitivity and photosynthetic capacity.
To study seasonal and interannual responses to climate variability, carbo stable isotope in tree rings and photosynthetic rates were investigated to study carbon fluxes in the two olive cultivars over three growing seasons (2020-2022). The two cultivars differed in
13C patterns during the three years. ‘Maurino’ showed a more limited range of variation in comparison to ‘Moraiolo’. This may be related to different stomatal sensitivity, leading to more limited stress tolerance in ‘Maurino’ with respect to ‘Moraiolo’. In all the years, ‘Moraiolo’ reached significantly lower 13C values in rainy years and higher 13C values in the dry summers 2021 and 2022, indicating a higher stomatal responsiveness and a higher phenotypic plasticity in response to changes in environmental conditions during the vegetative and reproductive season.This cultivar has the potential to better tolerate thermal variations and drought conditions in response to Mediterranean climate change.
Publication
Authors
S. Portarena, S.W. Ahmed, N. Cinosi, C. Traini, E. Brugnoli, F. Famiani, D. Farinelli
Keywords
Olea europaea L., ‘Maurino’, ‘Moraiolo’, growth, yield, δ13C
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