Transpiration rates and hydraulic conductance of two olive genotypes with different sensitivity to drought

Although some mechanisms of leaf dehydration tolerance are known in olive (Olea europaea L.), insights on adjustments in stem and root hydraulic conductance (K) in response to drought are yet to be explored. This work investigated transpiration mechanisms and K regulations in two olive genotypes showing different sensitivity to drought stress. In 2017, one-year-old potted ‘Nocellara del Belice’ (NB) and ‘Cerasuola’ (CE) plants were set in a greenhouse and double-bagged to avoid evaporation from soil surface. Half of the plants were drought-stressed (DS, no irrigation) for more than 30 days and the remaining plants were well-watered (WW). At the end of the drought period, stem and root porti…