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Seasonal physiological responses of Argania spinosa tree from Mediterranean to semi-arid climate

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Abstract

Argania spinosa (the argan tree) is a slow-growing tree endemic of Morocco, growing on semi-arid areas where no other tree species can live. With the aim of predicting temporal changes in A. spinosa woodlands under a probable increase in aridity, we set off to investigate these questions: how do A. spinosa physiological attributes respond to variations in climatic conditions and seasonality, and which is the set of attributes that most affects tree response to environmental conditions? In three study sites, Beni Snassen (North), High-Atlas (Mountain) and Admine Forest in Agadir (Coastal), gas exchange measurements, photochemical efficiency, leaf water potential and different leaf attributes were monitored in February, July and November of 2006. The Mountain site presents the most continental climate. Trees in this site were the most stressed in summer, having the lowest midday leaf water potential values, photochemical efficiency and assimilation rates. We found a Ψmd threshold around -4 MPa, below which stomatal conductance responds linearly to Ψmd. Plants from the North area never reached this threshold during the study period. Although leaf pigments presented a clear seasonal pattern, leaves from Coastal trees exhibit the highest content for each season. The three study sites were separated by two discriminate functions obtained by canonical discriminant analysis. In summer, the Mountain population is separated from the other sites mainly by assimilation rate and Fv/Fm, while in winter transpiration rates and chlorophyll content are the main discriminant variables. Our study shows that A. spinosa trees adjust their physiological status and leaf attributes to environmental conditions allowing plants to thrive under a dry climate. Under a scenario of global change, the distribution of the argan tree likely shifts to milder areas.

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Abbreviations

A:

CO2 assimilation rate

gs :

Stomatal conductance

E:

Evapotranspiration rate

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density

Fv/Fm :

Maximal PSII quantum yield

ΦPSII :

Effective PSII quantum yield

RWC:

Relative water content

LDMC:

Leaf dry matter content

LMA:

Leaf mass area

PET:

Potential evapotranspiration

VPD:

Vapour pressure deficit

CDA:

Canonical discriminant analysis

Ψmd :

Midday leaf water potential

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by a project from the Spanish Agence of International Cooperation (AECI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Sevilla, P.O. Box 1095, 41080, Sevilla, Spain

    Mari Cruz Díaz-Barradas, María Zunzunegui, Juan Jáuregui, Leonor Álvarez-Cansino & Mari Paz Esquivias

  2. Faculté Polydisciplinaire de Tarudant, Université Ibn Zhor, Agadir, Morocco

    Fatima Ain-Lhout

  3. Department de Géologique, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Zhor, Agadir, Morocco

    Said Boutaleb

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  1. Mari Cruz Díaz-Barradas
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  2. María Zunzunegui
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  3. Fatima Ain-Lhout
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  4. Juan Jáuregui
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  6. Leonor Álvarez-Cansino
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  7. Mari Paz Esquivias
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Correspondence to Mari Cruz Díaz-Barradas.

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Díaz-Barradas, M.C., Zunzunegui, M., Ain-Lhout, F. et al. Seasonal physiological responses of Argania spinosa tree from Mediterranean to semi-arid climate. Plant Soil 337, 217–231 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-010-0518-8

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