THE EFFECT OF DROUGHT ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SOME WOODY SPECIES FROM SOUTHWESTERN ROMANIA

Abstract

The determinations carried out between July and September 2021 in the Comanesti Hills aimed to establish the effect of the prolonged drought in this area on the physiological processes in the young trees of the species Quercus cerris, Q. Robur and Q. freinetto. The results obtained showed that all three species were affected. It was found that drought reduce the amount of water in the leaves, change the ratio of free water / bound water, reduce photosynthesis. The reduction of the stomatal conductance was the main factor that led to the decrease of photosynthesis, but also the lower content of pigments can be considered a determining factor. The peculiarities of the leaves of the species Q cerris have constituted to a certain extent a protective factor for the young trees of this species.