Exploring drought adaptation strategies in pistachios through morpho-physiological analysis under deficit irrigation

Area of Science:

• Agronomy and Crop Science
• Plant Physiology
• Climate Change Adaptation

Background:

• Climate change exacerbates water scarcity, threatening pistachio production in arid regions.
• Water stress significantly reduces pistachio yield and orchard sustainability.
• Deficit irrigation (DI) is a key strategy for optimizing crop yields with limited water.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare drought adaptation strategies in four pistachio varieties under deficit irrigation (DI).
• To assess the impact of varying DI levels on pistachio seedling morphology and physiology.
• To identify pistachio varieties with superior drought tolerance for water-scarce environments.

Main Methods:

• A factorial experiment in a completely randomized design (CRD) was used.
• Three DI levels (full irrigation, DI30%, DI60%) were applied to pistachio seedlings over 10 weeks.
• Morphological (root/shoot growth), physiological (stomatal traits, pigment concentration, water content) characteristics were assessed.

Main Results:

• 'Badami' showed drought avoidance via extensive root systems and osmotic adjustment.
• 'Akbari' exhibited dehydration tolerance with efficient stomatal control and pigment retention.
• 'Ahmad-Aghaei' demonstrated moderate adaptability with balanced root-shoot growth under mild DI; 'Kale-Ghochi' showed low resistance.

Conclusions:

• Distinct varietal mechanisms for drought adaptation in pistachios were identified.
• The 'Badami' variety shows significant potential for water savings (up to 30%) under DI.
• Selecting drought-tolerant varieties is crucial for sustainable pistachio production in water-limited regions.