Open Access

ARTICLE

Effect of Ecotype and Gender on the Variation of Leaf Morphological, Epidermal and Stomatal Traits among Pistacia atlantica Desf.

Abdelghafour Doghbage^1,*, Safia Belhadj², Hassen Boukerker³, Jean Philippe Mevy⁴, Thierry Gauquelin⁴, Alain Tonetto⁵, Benbader Habib^1,6, Arezki Derridj⁷, Zahra Robã Bouabdelli¹, Walid Soufan⁸, Fathi Abdellatif Belhouadjeb¹

1 Centre de Recherche en Agropastoralisme (CRAPAST), Djelfa, 17000, Algérie
2 Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Djelfa. P.O. Box 3117, Djelfa, 17000, Algeria
3 Scientific and Technical Research Center on Arid Regions, Biskra, 07000, Algeria
4 Aix Marseille Université, Avignon Université, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, 13331, France
5 Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, FSCM, PRATIM, Marseille, 13331, France
6 Conservation, Management and Improvement of Forest Ecosystems Laboratory, National Higher Agronomic School, Algiers, 16004, Algeria
7 Faculté des Sciences Biologiques et Agronomiques, Université Mouloud Mammeri, Tizi-Ouzou, 15000, Algérie
8 Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

* Corresponding Author: Abdelghafour Doghbage. Email:

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2024, 93(9), 2383-2413. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2024.055528

Received 29 June 2024; Accepted 23 August 2024; Issue published 30 September 2024

Abstract

The Atlas pistachio tree is a typically Mediterranean species, which represents an important forest heritage in the arid and semi-arid regions of Algeria. It is deeply rooted in the local population’s culture, making it essential to better understand this species for its conservation and valorization. Through our work on 7 provenances of Pistacia atlantica distributed across different bioclimates in Algeria and based on 28 quantitative and qualitative leaf, trichome, and stomatal traits, it was revealed that the Atlas pistachio tree exhibits significant ecotypic variability linked to its habitat and a high adaptability to extreme conditions in its environments (aridity and altitude). Indeed, statistical analyses indicate a substantial heterogeneity in the studied characteristics among different ecotypes of P. atlantica. Genetic factors undoubtedly play a primary role in this variability, but environmental factors also exert a remarkable impact on this heterogeneity. Gender also plays a crucial role in this variability. Microphotographs of leaf samples taken under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), such as the density and type of trichomes, and form and position of stomates in the epidermis, can provide an important taxonomic tool for identifying Pistacia species and valuable insights into their adaptation to xeric conditions, thus enabling their use in desertification control projects and the rehabilitation of highly degraded forest environments such as those found in the “Green Dam” initiative.

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