Influence of temperature on biomass production of clones of Atriplex halimus

A very effective tool to combat desertification is
revegetation. Promising species for this purpose are the evergreen
shrubs of the genus Atriplex. The objective of the research
was to study the growing responses of Atriplex halimus
under different thermal regimes and to evaluate the biomass
accumulation of selected clones. The test was carried out in
four sites of Sardinia Island (Italy) characterized by different
latitude, altitude and air temperature trends along the year. In
every site, potted plants of five clones of A. halimus were
compared for biomass production as measured by linear
growth of plants (central axis and secondary shoots), as well
as by dry weight of leaves, shoots and roots per plant.
Correlations between sums of hour-degrees under or above
the thresholds of critical air temperatures, comprised between
0 and 35 °C, and the plant growth indicators were analysed.
Differences among the five clones, with regard to the influence
of low temperatures on plant growth and on the biomass
production were evaluated. Among five tested clones, GIO1
and SAN3 resulted more sensitive to low temperatures.
Clones MAR1, PAL1 and FAN3 resulted less sensitive to
low temperatures and in the site characterized by the lowest
minimum temperatures also have shown greater adaptability
and thus biomass growth in the observed period. The clone
PAL1 showed a lower shoot/root biomass ratio as adaptation
to cold temperature, and the clone FAN3, the opposite behaviour
and a general preference to temperate thermal regimes.