Water status and growth phenology of a Saharan shrub in north Africa |
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Authors: | Lotfi Abdallah Mohamed Chaieb |
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Institution: | U.R. Biologie &Ecophysiologie des Milieux Arides, Facultédes Sciences PO Box 802, 3030 Sfax, Tunisia |
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Abstract: | An experimental study of the relationship between the phenological phases, water relations and climatic conditions was conducted on one shrub species, Spartidium saharae, in Saharan ecosystem of southern Tunisia. The results show that the water potential remained significantly higher than that recorded in other desert shrubs. However, a relationship between the water potential of S. saharae and precipitation was not evident suggesting that access to permanent ground water may be a factor of this decoupling. Although shoot elongation of the species occurred outside the wet season, water shortage induced a decrease in fruit production. |
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Keywords: | growth phenology potential Sahara Spartidium saharae |
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