TY  - EJOU
AU  - Doghbage, Abdelghafour 
AU  - Belhadj, Safia 
AU  - Boukerker, Hassen 
AU  - Mevy, Jean Philippe 
AU  - Gauquelin, Thierry 
AU  - Tonetto, Alain 
AU  - Habib, Benbader 
AU  - Derridj, Arezki 
AU  - Bouabdelli, Zahra Robã 
AU  - Soufan, Walid 
AU  - Belhouadjeb, Fathi Abdellatif 

TI  - Effect of Ecotype and Gender on the Variation of Leaf Morphological, Epidermal and Stomatal Traits among <i>Pistacia atlantica</i> Desf.
T2  - Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany

PY  - 2024
VL  - 93
IS  - 9
SN  - 1851-5657

AB  - 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 <i>Pistacia atlantica</i> 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 <i>P. atlantica</i>. 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 <i>Pistacia</i> 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.
KW  - <i>Pistacia atlantica</i>; variability; leaf; stomata; trichome; taxonomic; adaptation; desertification

DO  - 10.32604/phyton.2024.055528