Articles
Stomatal traits in pecan (Carya illinoinensis): varietal differences and seasonal adaptations under Mediterranean conditions
Article number
1464_6
Pages
39 – 44
Language
English
Abstract
In recent years, interest in non-traditional fruit species has grown, particularly as a strategy to diversify agricultural production in areas increasingly affected by extreme climatic conditions.
In this context, pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch), a fruit tree native to North America, can represent a promising option for Mediterranean orchards due to its productive potential and nutritional values of the fruits.
However, the agronomic and commercial success of this species also depends on a deeper understanding of its morphological and physiological traits, which remain poorly studied under Italian growing conditions.
In the seasons 2019 and 2020, a study was conducted on 10 pecan cultivars grown at the repository of the Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’ located at the ‘Martucci’ experimental and educational centre in Valenzano (Bari province), Puglia region (Italy). Two leaf parameters were analysed: stomatal density (SD) and area (SA). Significant differences among cultivars were detected for SD in both years, whereas SA varied significantly only in 2020. In 2019, ‘Stuart’ (687.50 stomata mm‑2) and ‘Cheyenne’ (681.25 stomata mm‑2) recorded the highest SD values.
The lowest densities were measured in Cherokee (437.50 stomata mm‑2) and Peruque (406.25 stomata mm‑2). Regarding SA in 2019, highest values were observed in ‘Wichita’ (277.3 μm2) and ‘Green River’ (260.69 μm2), whereas ‘Shoshoni’ presented the lowest value (187.84 μm2). In 2020, a general reduction in SD was observed, whereas SA showed an opposite trend, with greater variability and significantly higher values in several cultivars compared to the previous year.
The highest value for SD was detected in ‘Shawnee’ (533.33 stomata mm‑2), whereas ‘Cheyenne’ (422.92 stomata mm‑2) and ‘Peruque’ (414.58 stomata mm‑2) showed the lowest values.
Significant variations in SA were observed in 2020, with ‘Cheyenne’ displaying the largest stomatal area (290.84 μm2) and ‘Choctaw’ and ‘Shawnee’ the smallest (≈216 μm2). The combined analysis of the two years highlights both genotypic variability and year-dependent effects on stomatal traits, suggesting that different cultivars adopt distinct morphological strategies in response to environmental factors.
These findings provide valuable insights to be used for selecting pecan cultivars best suited to cultivation under Mediterranean conditions thus contributing to more efficient and climate-resilient orchard management.
Further studies will be conducted to better understand the relationship between SD, SA and physiological, yield and quality parameters.
In this context, pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch), a fruit tree native to North America, can represent a promising option for Mediterranean orchards due to its productive potential and nutritional values of the fruits.
However, the agronomic and commercial success of this species also depends on a deeper understanding of its morphological and physiological traits, which remain poorly studied under Italian growing conditions.
In the seasons 2019 and 2020, a study was conducted on 10 pecan cultivars grown at the repository of the Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’ located at the ‘Martucci’ experimental and educational centre in Valenzano (Bari province), Puglia region (Italy). Two leaf parameters were analysed: stomatal density (SD) and area (SA). Significant differences among cultivars were detected for SD in both years, whereas SA varied significantly only in 2020. In 2019, ‘Stuart’ (687.50 stomata mm‑2) and ‘Cheyenne’ (681.25 stomata mm‑2) recorded the highest SD values.
The lowest densities were measured in Cherokee (437.50 stomata mm‑2) and Peruque (406.25 stomata mm‑2). Regarding SA in 2019, highest values were observed in ‘Wichita’ (277.3 μm2) and ‘Green River’ (260.69 μm2), whereas ‘Shoshoni’ presented the lowest value (187.84 μm2). In 2020, a general reduction in SD was observed, whereas SA showed an opposite trend, with greater variability and significantly higher values in several cultivars compared to the previous year.
The highest value for SD was detected in ‘Shawnee’ (533.33 stomata mm‑2), whereas ‘Cheyenne’ (422.92 stomata mm‑2) and ‘Peruque’ (414.58 stomata mm‑2) showed the lowest values.
Significant variations in SA were observed in 2020, with ‘Cheyenne’ displaying the largest stomatal area (290.84 μm2) and ‘Choctaw’ and ‘Shawnee’ the smallest (≈216 μm2). The combined analysis of the two years highlights both genotypic variability and year-dependent effects on stomatal traits, suggesting that different cultivars adopt distinct morphological strategies in response to environmental factors.
These findings provide valuable insights to be used for selecting pecan cultivars best suited to cultivation under Mediterranean conditions thus contributing to more efficient and climate-resilient orchard management.
Further studies will be conducted to better understand the relationship between SD, SA and physiological, yield and quality parameters.
Authors
A. Pesole, A. Chiriacò, S. Pitardi, G. Ferrara
Keywords
density, area, stomata, season, Puglia
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