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Physiological Behaviour of Fig Tree (Ficus carica L.) Under Different Climatic Conditions

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Fig (Ficus carica): Production, Processing, and Properties

Abstract

Climatic conditions in many regions, especially in the Mediterranean basin, have been characterized by the scarcity and seasonal variability of rainfall associated with prolonged high temperatures during summer. Climate change might trigger biodiversity loss and lead to higher selection pressure on plant species. The study of water stress impacts is one of the essential agronomic issues. It allows better management of water resources and a better understanding of adaptation traits that trees may develop to maintain their fruit productivity and quality and survive in different climate disturbances. The fig (Ficus carica L.) tree, one of the oldest cultivated fruit crops globally, is being affected by global warming and changes in the distribution of precipitations. The combined effects of high temperatures and frequent drought have increased the aridity of the already arid fig cultivation regions. Even though fig trees have been widely cultivated in the Mediterranean basin, few studies on fig resilience to climate change. In this context, the present chapter presents the most recent findings on the ecophysiological behaviour of fig tree and their responses to abiotic stresses, particularly high temperatures and water stress. It has been demonstrated that fig cultivars showed two different strategies, (1) an avoidance strategy to cope with extreme heat and water stresses, expressed by the ability to optimize the leaf morphology through stomatal closure and leaf abscission, and (2) an adaptive strategy by maintaining low rates of active photosynthesis and stomatal conductance and reducing water loss. These responses mainly depend on the duration and the intensity of stress and are cultivar-dependent. Fig has also revealed drought stress memorizing by showing a rapid re-growth once the stress is relieved, leading to the extension of the vegetation cycle and biomass production. Chlorophyll degradation and the decrease of stomatal conductance were the first ecophysiological indicators of water stress on the fig tree. Finally, the fig could be considered a drought-stress resilient species considering its rapid growth recovery.

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Abbreviations

E:

transpiration rate

FV/FM:

maximum quantum yield of PSII

gs:

leaf stomatal conductance

PN:

photosynthesis rate

RH:

relative humidity

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Laboratory on Agrobiodiversity & Ecotoxicology (LR21AGR02), Higher Agronomic Institute, Chott-Mariem, IRESA – University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia

    Aroua Ammar, Faten Zaouay & Messaoud Mars

  2. Research Laboratory on Production & Protection for Sustainable Horticulture (LR21AGR03), Regional Research Centre on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, BP 57, 4042, Chott-Mariem, IRESA – University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia

    Imed Ben Aissa

  3. Research Unit on Conservation and Valorization of Plant Resources (UR13AGR07), Higher Agronomic Institute, Chott-Mariem, IRESA- University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia

    Mohamed Gouiaa

Authors
  1. Aroua Ammar
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  2. Imed Ben Aissa
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  3. Faten Zaouay
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  4. Mohamed Gouiaa
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  5. Messaoud Mars
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Nutrition Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan

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Ammar, A., Ben Aissa, I., Zaouay, F., Gouiaa, M., Mars, M. (2023). Physiological Behaviour of Fig Tree (Ficus carica L.) Under Different Climatic Conditions. In: Ramadan, M.F. (eds) Fig (Ficus carica): Production, Processing, and Properties. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16493-4_10

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