Phenotyping Olive Cultivars for Drought Tolerance Using Leaf Macro-Characteristics

This work investigates the relationships between leaf traits and olive response to water stress through two complementary field experiments in order screen genotypes for drought tolerance. The first experiment consisted of phenotyping 32 varieties 11 morpho-physiological during a fruit set phase under well-watered conditions. In second experiment, yield vegetative responses five representative withholding irrigation whole growth period were assessed identify that are associated with resilience plasticity could be used as tolerance markers. results highlighted large phenotypic variability area (LA, 2.9–9.5 cm2), petiole elasticity (8.0–36.0°), loss detached leaves (WLDL, 3.6–11.6%), stomatal density (222.6–470.1 no mm?2), length (11.4–18.7 µm), trichome (120.5–204.4 width (103.6–183.4 contents cuticular wax (CWC, 44.7–606.2 µg cm?2), soluble sugars (SSC, 15.8–536.9 mg gdw?1). Among these traits, WLDL displayed significant correlation stability index (r = ?0.973) use efficiency ?0.939), suggesting its relevant marker. Likewise, LA, SSC, CWC singled out second-level markers, being strongly correlated size leafing intensity stress. Cluster analysis 12 distinct levels within studied collection. Based on four identified “Lechin de Sevilla” alongside “Picholine Marocaine” found most drought-tolerant varieties, while Frantoio was sensitive. study provides first, unprecedented, insights into usefulness screening, focus structural functional traits.