Effect of Water Deficit on Gas Exchange Responses to Intercellular CO2 Concentration Increase of Quercus suber L. Seedlings

In north Tunisia, the Quercus suber L. forests have shown a great decline indices as well as a non-natural regeneration. The climate changes could accentuate this unappreciated situation. In this study, the effect of water deficit on physiological behavior of Quercus suber seedlings was investigated. Photosynthetic responses of 15 months old Cork oak seedlings grown for 30 days under 40% and 80% soil water water content (control) were evaluated. Results showed a negative effect of water deficit and a positive effect of the intercellular CO2 concentration increase both on photosynthesis and transpiration. Stomata conductance might play a major role in balancing gas exchanges between the leaf and its environment. Moreover, global warming could negatively affect carbon uptake of Cork oak species in northern Tunisia. Elevated CO2 leaf content will benefit Cork oak growing under water deficit by decreasing both photoysnthesis and transpiration, which will decrease either the rate or the severity of water deficits, with limited effects on metabolism. the results suggest that high intercellular CO2 concentration could increase water use efficiency among Cork oak species.