Intraspecific variation and phenotypic plasticity of olive varieties in response to contrasting environmental conditions.

ABSTRACT: Assessing the extent of genotypic and phenotypic trait variation within a genetically diversified species is crucial to understanding how plants cope with environmental differences. We examine these components in Olea europaea L. europaea, one of the most widespread and diverse tree crops cultivated in the Mediterranean Basin, a region facing rapid climatic shifts with increasing summer drought. We compared trait values of 83 olive varieties from different Mediterranean countries, grown in two ex situ varietal collections with contrasting environments: subhumid and semi-arid climates. Ten leaf-, stem- and branch traits related to resource and water use were compared across 50 varieties within each site, and phenotypic plasticity was assessed for the 17 varieties common

SUBMITTER: Wakib S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12612625 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature