The Effect of Drought on Morphophysiologic Anatomic Characteristic of Some Olive Cultivars

In this regard, the morphophysiologic and anatomic characteristics of six Olive cultivars (Nabali, Feshomi, Arbequin, Zard, Gordal and Roghani) were investigated under drought. Experiments were designed based on factorial and complete block random plot with two control treatments, -1.5 MPa stress and three replicates. The investigated factors were as follows: leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf angle with stem, leaf numbers, length and number of branches, the number of stomata, think diameter, relative water content (RWC), leaf water potential (LWP), water saturate deficiency (WSD) and water content (WC). In this study, no significant differences were observed in leaf area and specific leaf area between control and stress treatment. In leaf angle with stem the difference was found significant. In Nabali cultivars the change in leaf angle with stem was less pronounced compared with other cultivars. Leaf's numbers decreased under drought conditions, but leaf's number in Nabali and Arbequin cultivars in comparison to other cultivars, shows a higher efficiency of photosynthesis in anabolism in these cultivars. The number of branches and consequently, the length of branches decreased under drought stress. Arbequin and Nabali cultivars were less affected by drought. In the study the stomata density increases under drought stress. An increase in stomata density was appeared in Gordal and Roghani cultivars. Drought resistance observed in Nabali and Zard cultivars due to the high level of leaf water potential, an increase in relative water content, the low level of water saturation deficiency and water content.