Phytotoxic Effect of Pollution on Young Olive Trees (Olea europaea L.)

Abstract

Fluorine (F) is recognized as one of the most toxic pollutants in the environment and can severely limit plants’ growth and development. In order to evaluate the behavior of the Chemlali variety with respect to fluoride stress, some experimental tests were carried out under natural conditions. This evaluation focused on the monitoring of some ecophysiological, biochemical parameters (the content of soluble sugars, starch, proline, chlorophyll pigments, etc.), some morphological aspects and the role of foliar application of exogenous proline in the improvement of the tolerance of the olive tree to the stress applied.

During this study, young olive trees were subjected to different soil treatments with NaF and foliar pulverization with proline.

The obtained results show that the roots have the highest levels of fluoride compared to the leaves, suggesting the possible retention mechanism at the roots level in order to protect the aerial parts from the toxic effect of this element.

The exogenous application of proline significantly reduced the negative effects of stress. Thus, it improved the growth of vegetative branches and starch contents. Generally, the exogenous application of leaf proline improved the olive tree tolerance to stress.