Phenological variability in different populations Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) in Tunisia

Abstract

The cork oak (Quercus suber L.) is a Mediterranean species, having great ecological and socio- economic interest. IT is characterized by a large phenological polymorphism showing variations periodic phenomena of plant development residing in observing any qualitative change in external morphological characters. Our study is based on the comparison of phenological parameters (maximum rate of fruiting, flowering and leafing) for periods of peaks and estimated relative to adults of different populations of cork oak trees natural conditions in Tunisia: El Feidja (Ghardimaou), Beni M'ttir, Hammam Bourguiba, Zena and Oued Mejen Essef (Ain Draham), Ain Zana (Bouselm) Jebel Zouza (Nefza) Bellif (Sejnane) Keff El Rand (Haouria) and Hammam Jdidi (Hammamet) located Kroumirie, Mogods and Cap Bon. Our results show that the rate of fruiting has a peak (100%) on average for the period beginning November for the population Bellif El Feidja, Keff rand and El Hammam Jdidi, period late November-early December for populations Dar Fatma, Jebel Zouza, Hammam Bourguiba, Jebel Kroufa, Oued Ezzen and Mejen by Essef against the period to the end of December or early January for the population of Beni Mtir and Zena Ain. The flowering rate is very high (80%) during the end of April for the people of Jebel Zouza, Blessed Mtir El Feidja, Steam Jdidi, Keff El Ain rand and Zena, to lesser extent (50-70 %) for the population of Bellif, Dar Fatma, Jebel Kroufa and Mejen Essef and low (20-30%) for the poulation Oued Ezzen and Hammam Bourguiba and has a peak (100%) for wholes populations towards the end of the month May. The rate is maximal foliation (100%) for wholes cork oak populations during all the year for all populations. Unlike the period of phenology (leafing, flowering and fruiting) for the populations of cork oak (Quercus suber.L) in Tunisia can be attributed to environmental and climatic factors of the original site and / or specific biological conditions (physiological and genetic) of the case study.