Next Article in Journal
Restoring High Mountain Sphagnum Communities in the Central Pyrenees
Previous Article in Journal
Extracellular Polymeric Substances Protect Chlorella sp. Against the Cadmium Stress
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Ecologies
Volume 6
Issue 4
10.3390/ecologies6040066
ecologies-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Exploring Functional Trait Dynamics and Responses in New Olive Crossbreeds: Implications for Climate Resilience Strategies

by
Jalal Kassout
1,*,
Houda Souali
1,
Asma Zahiri
1,
Hajar El Hilali
1,
Hayat Zaher
1,
Vladimiro Andrea Boselli
2,
Rachid Hadria
1 and
Sara Oulbi
1
1
Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Marrakech, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, P.O. Box 415, Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
2
Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment, National Research Council, CNR-IREA via A. Corti, 12, 20133 Milan, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Ecologies 2025, 6(4), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies6040066
Submission received: 30 August 2025 / Revised: 17 September 2025 / Accepted: 18 September 2025 / Published: 1 October 2025
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Climate change poses serious challenges to Mediterranean crops such as the olive tree (Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea), underscoring the need for cultivars with improved drought tolerance and disease resistance. This study investigates variability in leaf and wood traits among Moroccan and introduced olive cultivars and their crossbreed genotypes grown under similar conditions. Specifically, we assessed (1) variation in key functional traits, (2) the effects of crossbreeding combinations, and (3) trait syndromes shaped by selection. Results showed substantial intraspecific variation in leaf traits, including specific leaf area (SLA), specific leaf water content (SLWC), stomatal size (SS), and density (SD), indicating diverse strategies for resource use and plasticity. Crossbreed genotypes generally displayed higher SLWC and lower SLA, reflecting adaptation to water stress. Wood traits, particularly vessel size (SVS) and number (NVS), also varied, revealing trade-offs between hydraulic efficiency and safety. Notably, an increase in vessel size and hydraulic conductivity was correlated with oil content (OC%), while OC% increased with higher vessel and stomatal densities. Larger stomata increased conductance and fruit growth, while lower SLA was linked to higher yield. Multivariate analysis distinguished two genotype groups, consistent with parental combinations. Overall, crossbreeding generated novel functional diversity that may enhance adaptive potential. These findings highlight the value of integrating functional and anatomical traits into olive breeding programs to improve resilience and productivity under climate change.
Keywords: Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea; crossbreeding; olive crossbreed genotypes; olive cultivars; traits-based approach; climate change Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea; crossbreeding; olive crossbreed genotypes; olive cultivars; traits-based approach; climate change
Graphical Abstract

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Kassout, J.; Souali, H.; Zahiri, A.; El Hilali, H.; Zaher, H.; Boselli, V.A.; Hadria, R.; Oulbi, S. Exploring Functional Trait Dynamics and Responses in New Olive Crossbreeds: Implications for Climate Resilience Strategies. Ecologies 2025, 6, 66. https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies6040066

AMA Style

Kassout J, Souali H, Zahiri A, El Hilali H, Zaher H, Boselli VA, Hadria R, Oulbi S. Exploring Functional Trait Dynamics and Responses in New Olive Crossbreeds: Implications for Climate Resilience Strategies. Ecologies. 2025; 6(4):66. https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies6040066

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kassout, Jalal, Houda Souali, Asma Zahiri, Hajar El Hilali, Hayat Zaher, Vladimiro Andrea Boselli, Rachid Hadria, and Sara Oulbi. 2025. "Exploring Functional Trait Dynamics and Responses in New Olive Crossbreeds: Implications for Climate Resilience Strategies" Ecologies 6, no. 4: 66. https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies6040066

APA Style

Kassout, J., Souali, H., Zahiri, A., El Hilali, H., Zaher, H., Boselli, V. A., Hadria, R., & Oulbi, S. (2025). Exploring Functional Trait Dynamics and Responses in New Olive Crossbreeds: Implications for Climate Resilience Strategies. Ecologies, 6(4), 66. https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies6040066

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop