Ecophysiological and molecular characterization of seedlings of Argania spinosa from four Moroccan provenience

The key issue in combating land degradation in arid area is to recover the vegetation by selecting plant species suitable to endangered regions. It is expected that by understanding the constraints on different plant functional types and their environmental interactions, we can better predict the sensitivity of dryland ecosystems to anthropogenic and natural stressors. This research focused on the evaluation and characterisation of the ecophysiological and molecular variability in water-use efficiency of Argania spinosa (fam. Sapotaceae) ecotypes growing along the different aridity gradients in south-western Morocco. A. spinosa is a thorny and slow growing tree with deep-growing roots, endemic of harsh environments (rainfall around 200 - 300 mm/year) in south-western Morocco. The species characterises a peculiar landscape where it plays vital roles in providing valuable economic resources and in protecting the environment by slowing down desertification. We evaluated the range of responses to drought with particular emphasis on WUE and molecular characterization and evaluation of different provenances of A. spinosa trees. Key words: Drought, photosynthesis, SSR markers, stable isotopes, water-use efficiency.