Pistacia: Selection of the Most Stress-Resistant Genotype: Ecophysiological and Morphological Variability

Climate change results in increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, coupled with rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns, leading to disruptions in stable water reserves due to floods or droughts. It also contributes to the loss of the roles played by forests, such as soil protection against erosion and the biodiversity of flora and fauna, which will inevitably face longer periods of water stress. Insufficient water supply leads to numerous morphological, physiological, and metabolic changes that occur in all plant organs. The genus Pistacia is a fundamental component of the stability and maintenance of many ecosystems. The introduction of this species in Tunisia offers a sustainable ecological solution and enables diverse forms of production (firewood, etc.). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of water stress on water relations in young plants and to determine whether certain aspects of water-plant relations varied among the genotypes studied.