IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jresou/v13y2024i10p135-d1486997.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing the Impact of Aridity on Argan Trees in Morocco: Implications for Conservation in a Changing Climate

Author

Listed:
  • Chaima Afi

    (Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, B.P 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
    Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorization of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Ibnou Zohr University, B.P 8106, Agadir 80000, Morocco)

  • Maryem Telmoudi

    (Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, B.P 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
    Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Bioengineering, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cadi Ayyad University, B.P 549, Av. Abdelkarim Elkhattabi, Guéliz, Marrakech 40000, Morocco)

  • Said Labbassi

    (Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, B.P 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
    Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Bioengineering, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cadi Ayyad University, B.P 549, Av. Abdelkarim Elkhattabi, Guéliz, Marrakech 40000, Morocco)

  • Naima Chabbi

    (Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, B.P 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
    Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Bioengineering, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cadi Ayyad University, B.P 549, Av. Abdelkarim Elkhattabi, Guéliz, Marrakech 40000, Morocco)

  • Jamal Hallam

    (Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, B.P 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco)

  • Fouad Msanda

    (Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorization of Natural Resources, Faculty of Sciences, Ibnou Zohr University, B.P 8106, Agadir 80000, Morocco)

  • Naima Ait Aabd

    (Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, B.P 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco)

Abstract

Climate change, through increased aridity, threatens ecosystems, including Morocco’s endemic Argania Spinosa L. Skeels. This study assesses the impact of aridity on argan trees by analyzing morphological, ecophysiological, and biochemical parameters across various regions and comparing them with historical data. Significant variations were observed in leaf area, leaf length, chlorophyll content, relative water content, polyphenols, flavonoids, soluble sugars, and antioxidant activity, while leaf width ratio and chlorophyll ratio remained stable. Tioughza exhibited the largest leaf area (136.07 mm 2 ), the highest chlorophyll content (436.76 mg/m 2 ), and superior water retention (52.27%). Conversely, Ezzaouite showed the smallest leaf area (85.76 mm 2 ) and lowest water content (37.68%). Increased aridity has intensified these differences, revealing the argan tree’s vulnerability to climate change. The findings underscore the need for targeted conservation efforts, including reforestation, strengthened legislation, and enhanced genetic research, to sustain this vital species.

Suggested Citation

  • Chaima Afi & Maryem Telmoudi & Said Labbassi & Naima Chabbi & Jamal Hallam & Fouad Msanda & Naima Ait Aabd, 2024. "Assessing the Impact of Aridity on Argan Trees in Morocco: Implications for Conservation in a Changing Climate," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:13:y:2024:i:10:p:135-:d:1486997
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/13/10/135/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/13/10/135/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:13:y:2024:i:10:p:135-:d:1486997. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.