COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DROUGHT STRESS TOLERANCE OF FOUR PROVENANCES OF Anacardium occidentale L. GROWN UNDER SEMICONTROLLED CONDITIONS

Abstract

The adaptation of Anacardium occidentale L. to water deficit conditions has become essential in the context of climate change in Casamance, Senegal. Water deficit is one of the main causes that strongly affect the productivity of woody species. Thus, the promotion of tolerant varieties that can withstand the uncertainty of rainfall and its deficits is a solution to adapt to the effects of climate change. The study of the tolerance of four provenances of Anacardium occidentale L under drought stress conditions (12.5%, 25%, 50% and 100% of field capacity) was carried out in a semi-controlled environment. The measurement of height, total dry biomass, collar diameter and root length and relative water content, allowed us to obtain the results on the growth and physiological reactions of Anacardium occidentale provenances under water stress. At a high level of drought stress (12.5%), the best growth was obtained with plants from the Ziguinchor provenance, which had higher survival rates, heights, collar diameters and relative water content than the Kolda, Sédhiou and Goudomp provenances. These results show that the Ziguinchor plants provenance is more tolerant to water stress than the other provenances tested. This study recommends the use of the Ziguinchor Anacardium occcidentale provenance to fight against the effects of climate change in Casamance (Senegal).