Eco-Physiological Behavior of Five Tunisian Olive Tree Cultivars under Drought Stress

Tunisia is known to be a country with poor water resources, and scarcity evident in certain regions. In the long term, this situation could worsen, given increased risk of drought. The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) one plants best adapted climate, numerous studies have been carried out assess effects stress. aim work was study compare ecophysiological behavior main Tunisian cultivar (Chetoui) four rare cultivars (Chemchali, Besbessi, Sayali Jarboui) under drought stress identify parameters while comparing tolerance studied abiotic One-year-old trees grown pots greenhouse were subjected treatments (i.e., 15, 30, 45 60 days stress) comparison control trees. evaluation response olives induced based on five parameters: relative content (RWC), stomatal resistance (SR), photosystem PSII, maximal photochemical efficiency (FV/FM), performance index absorption basis (PI), measured by handy PEA, chlorophyll index, SPAD. (RWC) decreased increasing Jarboui showed lower RWC values than Chemchali, especially severe This result confirmed changes fluorescence characteristics. FV/FM, PI SPAD during development These observations are discussed relation strategies developed grow Principal Component Analysis allowed parameter strongest loading factor, which highlighted most tolerant distinguished. cultivars, Besbessi north Chemchali south, can present possible alternative replace local or foreign cultivated country, characterized high needs.