Pistacia Research Articles

A comparative analysis of dendrometric, macromorphological, and micromorphological characteristics of Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica and Pistacia terebinthus in the middle Atlas region of Morocco.

The genus Pistacia, with its species having notable ecological, economic, and medicinal implications, demonstrates remarkable environmental adaptability. The central objective of the study is to analyze interspecific variations between Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica and Pistacia terebinthus across three distinct bioclimatic zones in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco. The methodology includes collecting dendrometric measurements and conducting macromorphological examinations on these two taxa, with a detailed analysis of 27 qualitative and quantitative variables. A micro-morphological analysis of leaves, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), is employed to explore specific features such as size and stomatal density, as well as qualitative aspects like epidermal cell shape and trichomes. Dendrometric measurements have revealed that the canopy surface and the number of trunks per tree can serve as distinctive features between the two species. Regarding the sex ratio of Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica, 59% of the examined trees are males, primarily associated with the jujube tree in arid zones and the dwarf palm in humid areas. In contrast, female Pistacia terebinthus exhibit a similar percentage, predominantly associated with oak groves and cade juniper in their distribution areas. Principal component analysis of biometric measurements emphasized a significant disparity between the two species, representing 60.25% of the total variance. The use of SEM unveiled new features facilitating the identification of the two species. By leveraging the macromorphological and micromorphological variability of pistachio trees, we can qualify those best suited to diverse bioclimates. In this regard, we suggest incorporating them into reforestation and rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring our declining ecosystems.

Current State of Wild Pistacia lentiscus in Azerbaijan

Information is provided on Pistacia lentiscus L. belonging to natural forest vegetation, Anacardiaceae family, Pistacia genus. Information is given on the modern status and importance of Pistacia lentiscus L., which is one of the wild tree species in the flora of Azerbaijan. Due to its resin content, the Pistacia lentiscus is a valuable plant that is resistant to pests and used in various fields. The Pistacia lentiscus is a long-lived tree that coexists with other forest plants.

Assessment of sex, nut weight, germination vigour, stem growth, and development traits of pistachio cultivars (Pistacia vera L.) used as rootstock

ABSTRACT Pistacia vera L. is the only edible plant with economic importance within Pistacia genus. In the current study, rootstock traits such as growth and development of major pistachio cultivars were evaluated in plants used as rootstock for pistachios in Turkey. The sex of 1008 individuals was determined using a molecular sex marker with HRM analysis. From the eight cultivars, the number of female and male plants were 453 and 413, respectively; and then used for phenotypic measurements. For each measurement period, analysis of variance established that there were no significant ‘cultivar x sex’ interactions or sex effects for stem diameter or stem height. However, the differences among cultivars were highly significant (P < 0.0001) at all measurement times. The maximum stem length and width values were in the progeny of the Ohadi cultivar, with the lowest values recorded for progeny of the Uzun and Kırmızı cultivars. The nut weights and stem properties of the plants were correlated with high positive coefficients, although the germination vigour was not statistically correlated with any other trait. The results of the current paper will aid the selection of candidates for future pistachio rootstock breeding programmes.

The first complete chloroplast genome sequences of Pistacia eurycarpa Yalt, a horticultural important rootstock and industrial tree

AbstractPistacia genus is botanically classified in the Sapindales order and the Anacardiaceae family, and the member of this genus P. eurycarpa is used as a rootstock for pistachio. Due to its rich oil content, various soaps are produced from the green peels of P. eurycarpa nuts and are used in the cosmetic industry as soap. In the current study, we aimed to release the complete chloroplast genome of P. eurycarpa to detect the relationship of the members of the Sapindales and also Pistacia genus. The length of the chloroplast genome of P. eurycarpa was identified 160,693 (bp) and consisted of the distinct parts of the genomic fragments such as LSC, SSC, and IR regions. The length of the LSC was 88,410 (bp), and SSC genomic range represented a total of 19,087 (bp). Inverted regions length was 26,598 (bp). A total of 125 genes were determined within the whole chloroplast genome of P. eurycarpa. The number of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in the chloroplast genome was computed as 74. Three main clusters defined the dendrogram of all accessions. The closest pairs of species were identified among the P. eurycarpa and P. vera species. The farthest genetic relationship was calculated among the members of the Sapindales species Mangifera indica and the Fagales species Castanea mollissima. The sequences of the chloroplast genome of P. eurycarpa species can be evaluated for the construction of the basis of the complete evolution of the order, genera, and the development of the SSRs for species-specific markers for revealing the evolution of Pistacia species for future breeding research.

Clarifying genetic and taxonomic relationships among Pistacia taxa (Anacardiaceae) in Croatia

In the eastern Adriatic flora the genus Pistacia L. (Anacardiaceae) is represented with P. lentiscus L., P. terebinthus L., their hybrid P. × saportae Burnat and the cultivated P. vera L. In addition, an endemic putative taxon from Mt. Biokovo was described in 1985 as P. calcivora Radić. Our aim was to resolve relationships between the four putative indigenous taxa of this genus in Croatia (P. lentiscus, P. terebinthus, P. × saportae and P. calcivora) based on genetic (AFLP) and morphological data. Specifically, we aimed to determine the presence of the hybrid taxon P. × saportae and to validate the controversial taxonomic status of P. calcivora at the molecular and morphological levels. Our combined results indicate the presence of two well separated groups of populations. The first group included all individuals of P. terebinthus and the individuals initially assigned to the potential taxon P. calcivora based on leaf morphology, suggesting that there is no support for the described taxon P. calcivora and that it should be considered as a synonym for P. terebinthus. The second group corresponded to P. lentiscus and included the majority of the presumed hybrid individuals of P. × saportae. However, four hybrid individuals were confirmed at the molecular level and were placed between the two parental taxa in the phylogenetic tree, confirming the presence of P. × saportae in Croatia. Although confirmed P. × saportae individuals were genetically closer to P. lentiscus, they were morphologically more similar to P. terebinthus, hindering their correct identification in the field.

Dermatological effects of Pistacia species: A systematic review

Different parts of Pistacia species are traditionally used to treat various skin problems. Traditional experiences can be a good basis for research on the therapeutic effects of medicinal plants. The active compounds of plants can be identified and used in different disorders in an innovative way. There are several studies that have evaluated the Pistacia species for dermatological disorders. However, despite the valuable effects of the Pistacia species on skin disease, there is no comprehensive review of the dermal effects of these plants. So, in this study, current evidence regarding the dermatological effect of the Pistacia species has been reviewed. Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies that examined dermatological effects of Pistacia species. According to the review, most of the evidence of dermatological effects in the Pistacia genus comes from preliminary studies on wound healing, cutaneous leishmaniasis, inflammation caused by UV rays and photo-protection, hyperpigmentation disorders, and atopic dermatitis. The Pistacia genus was implicated in 3 clinical studies and 30 in vivo/in vitro studies showing several mechanisms that go beyond its dermatological effects. The traditional medicinal effects of these herbs are supported by some scientific evidence. The potential protective/therapeutic effects of these herbs need to be studied further so that they can be considered as possible future candidates for use in skin care products.

Phylogenetic Analysis and Lipoxygenase (LOX) Gene Family Variation in The Pistachio

Lipoxygenases (LOX) gene family is a type of nonheme iron-containing dioxygenases, which has a very important aspect in plant development and fruit quality. LOX gene, which is responsible for lipid oxidation, the main role for the biosynthesis pathway of unsaturated fatty acids. Although some studies have investigated the LOX gene family in several species including arabidopsis, soybean, peanut and apple, there is no information from Pistachio; and the phylogeny of this gene family in the Pistacia genus is still not determined. In this study, Arabidopsis thaliana LOX1 gene (NCBI Reference Sequence: NM_104376.3) was selected and used as a query sequence for performing a BLASTN search. Among all sequence query which was found by NCBI platform, 9 sequences were selected for further analysis. Phylogenetic tree of full-length LOX gene sequences from the Pistacia genus was constructed using the Maximum Likelihood method with MEGA software. By using phylogenic analysis, we identified variations in gene structure and revealed the phylogenetic evolutionary relationship of this gene family. Additionally, this may serve as a reference value for assessing the genetic relationships among various LOX genes in Pistacia genus species. This variations provides us the possibility the design the primer to achieve us to find the exact LOX gene in Pistacia genus and future research on the evolutionary history and transgenic research on LOX genes.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Pistacia Species with rbcL Chloroplast Gene Region

The phylogeny of five species in the genus Pistacia was assessed using the plastid rbcL gene region. Genomic DNA was isolated from leaf tissue and PCR analysis with primer of rbcL gene region and DNA sequencing were performed. Using obtained sequence data, phylogenetic and PCoA (Principle Component Analysis) analyses were performed for reveal the phylogenetic relationships among Pistacia species. According to the result of phylogenetic analysis, closer grouping in clades was observed between P. vera; P. khinjuk and P. atlantica; between P. palaestina and P. terebinthus. Result of PCoA analysis supported the result of phylogenetic analysis. As a result, rbcL gene region was found powerful at species-based grouping. Revealed sequence information of chloroplast gene region is reliable to elaborate a molecular database to conduct breeding programs on local pistachio gene pool.

Development of Novel Genic SSR Markers and Their Transferability Across the Genus Pistacia Species and Comparison of In Silico Genomic SSRs and Genic SSRs in Pistachio

Development of Novel Genic SSR Markers and Their Transferability Across the Genus Pistacia Species and Comparison of In Silico Genomic SSRs and Genic SSRs in Pistachio

Leaf Morphological and Epidermal Traits Variability along an Environmental Gradients in Ten Natural Populations of Pistacia lentiscus.

The species belonging to the genus Pistacia possess ecological, economic, and medicinal value. They show a very high ecological plasticity. This research is a contribution to the study of the intraspecific diversity and variability of 10 populations of Pistacia lentiscus in different bioclimates. Nine locations in Algeria and one site in France have been selected in order to understand the strategies developed by this species under extreme conditions, including altitude and aridity, and to identify the adaptive processes that can be observed based on the morphological and ultrastructural features of the leaf. As a result of this research, we have collected a large quantity of important information on morphological and microphytodermal leaf variability for the ten studied populations. The statistical analyses showed a very important difference in the studied characteristics between these populations. It has been demonstrated that environmental factors also have a significant impact on the heterogeneity of most measured leaf features. Moreover, the observations with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) enabled us to highlight new characteristics of the studied species, such as the glandular trichomes on the leaflets and embedded stomata in the epidermis. These criteria could supplement the existing morphological characteristics used in the systematic classification of the Pistacia genus. Overall, the studied species have shown xeromorphy features, which give them the opportunity to be used in desertification mitigation programs, due to their ability to withstand conditions of extreme aridity.

History, Phylogeny, Biodiversity, and New Computer-Based Tools for Efficient Micropropagation and Conservation of Pistachio (Pistacia spp.) Germplasm.

The word "pstk" [pistag], used in the ancient Persian language, is the linguistic root from which the current name "pistachio", used worldwide, derives. The word pistachio is generally used to designate the plants and fruits of a single species: Pistacia vera L. Both the plant and its fruits have been used by mankind for thousands of years, specifically the consumption of its fruits by Neanderthals has been dated to about 300,000 years ago. Native to southern Central Asia (including northern Afghanistan and northeastern Iran), its domestication and cultivation occurred about 3000 years ago in this region, spreading to the rest of the Mediterranean basin during the Middle Ages and finally being exported to America and Australia at the end of the 19th century. The edible pistachio is an excellent source of unsaturated fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and bioactive phenolic compounds that help promote human health through their antioxidant capacity and biological activities. The distribution and genetic diversity of wild and domesticated pistachios have been declining due to increasing population pressure and climatic changes, which have destroyed natural pistachio habitats, and the monoculture of selected cultivars. As a result, the current world pistachio industry relies mainly on a very small number of commercial cultivars and rootstocks. In this review we discuss and summarize the current status of: etymology, origin, domestication, taxonomy and phylogeny by molecular analysis (RAPID, RFLP, AFLP, SSR, ISSR, IRAP, eSSR), main characteristics and world production, germplasm biodiversity, main cultivars and rootstocks, current conservation strategies of both conventional propagation (seeds, cutting, and grafting), and non-conventional propagation methods (cryopreservation, slow growth storage, synthetic seed techniques and micropropagation) and the application of computational tools (Design of Experiments (DoE) and Machine Learning: Artificial Neural Networks, Fuzzy logic and Genetic Algorithms) to design efficient micropropagation protocols for the genus Pistacia.

Evaluation of genetic diversity and Gene-Pool of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks Based On Retrotransposon-Based Markers

Pistachio genetic variety includes a wide range of female variations and male genotypes, and Iran is regarded as one of the critical sites for this diversity in the world. The genus Pistacia consists of eleven species that only have edible nuts and are commercially important. Four important species of pistachios include Pistacia vera, P. khinjuk Stocks, P. eurycarpa Yalt. (P. atlantica subsp. Kurdica Zoh.), and P. atlantica Dsef are found in Iran. Genetic diversity is one aspect of biological diversity that is extremely important for conservation strategies, especially in rare and narrowly endemic species. In Iran, there is no knowledge concerning the genomic organization of the population, genetic diversity, or phenotypic variations of the species. Pistacia khinjuk has eight distinct regional populations, all of which were studied for genetic variation and demographic organization because of the species’ therapeutic value. For this reason, we employed six inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism (IRAP) indicators and 15 mixed IRAP indicators to highlight genomic variation in this plant both within and across populations in this study. It was discovered that 73% of overall genomic variability was related to within-population variety and 27% was attributable to inter-population genomic divergence using the AMOVA test among the examined populations (PhiPT = 0.49, P = 0.010). It was discovered by the Mantel analysis that there was a substantial positive association between genomic isolation and geographic distance among the tested populations. STRUCTURE analyses and population assignment tests revealed some degree of gene flow among these populations. There was consistency between the MDS plots of communities and the NJ grouping of molecular information. Based on (IRAP) indicators, these findings demonstrated that regional communities of the plant Pistacia khinjuk are well distinct.

Genome survey of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) accessions revealed by Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is the only cultivated and commercially important species in the genus Pistacia, consisting of a deciduous, dioeciously and wind-pollinated at least 11 tree species. Pistacia vera is native to north Afghanistan, northeast Iran, and central Asian republics. To investigate the genetic diversity of pistachio (Pistacia vera), we genotyped 30 cultivars of this species using 10 Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers. The SCoT markers generated 9-25 alleles (155 in total) with an average of 16 per locus. The highest value of percentage polymorphism (61.99%) was observed in Ghafori Rafsanjan (cultivars No.27) which shows high value for gene diversity (0.42) and Shanon, information index (0.39). Genotype Shahpasand (Pust Ghermez) (No.10) has the lowest value for percentage of polymorphism (20%) and the lowest value for Shanon, information index (0.15), and He (0.010). Genetic similarity values obtained from Dice’s coefficient ranged from 0.66 (between Akbari (Pust Ghermez) and Badami Dishkalaghi) to 0.88 (between populations Menghar Kalaghi and Kaleghochi (Pust Ghermez). The main objectives of this study were to assess the genetic diversity and genetic relationship of pistachio cultivars in Iran. These results could benefit Irainian pistachio germplasm collection, conservation and future breeding.

The dynamics and the timeline of speciation in the gall-forming aphid Geoica spp. within and among Pistacia host tree species

Trees of the genus Pistacia serve as obligate hosts for gall-forming aphids (Hemiptera, Aphididae, Fordini). Each aphid species induces a characteristic gall on a single Pistacia host species. The genus Geoica (Fordini) induce similar spherical closed galls on the lower side of the leaflet’s midvein, on different Pistacia species. Two species of Pistacia trees that harbor Geoica galls grow naturally in Israel: P. palaestina and P. atlantica. We analyzed the phylogeny and the genetic structure of the Geoica species complex in Israel, and assessed the genetic differentiation and the level of host plant specificity of the aphids between P. atlantica and P. palaestina. We found that the splitting of the genus between P. atlantica and P. palaestina is estimated to have occurred 24–25 Ma (the Oligocene/Miocene boundary). Five different haplotypes suggesting five different species have been further speciating among Geoica spp., galling on P. atlantica, and an additional three species, on P. palaestina.

Evaluation of genetic structure of pistachio through whole genome resequencing

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is the only edible and cultivated species. Pistachio is the only economically importance and dioecious species in the genus Pistacia. There are basic problems in pistachio breeding such as dioecious flower structure, long juvenile period and alternate bearing. These problems can be overcome not with classical breeding methods, but with modern molecular breeding methods. In this study, very high numbers of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), insertion/deletion (InDel), structural variants (SV) and copy number variation (CNV) were determined by using the next generation sequencing data of the pistachio genotype obtained with 15x sequencing coverage. A total of 1,785,235 SNP, 260,683 InDel, 5,227 SV and 1,914 CNV variants identified in PvF217 pistachio genotype. The variant density was calculated as one variant per 292 base. The distribution of the obtained variants to the Siirt reference genome was obtained. In addition, all variants were annotated to the reference genome and exonic and genomic variants were described using Annovar. These data will be used to consist of a molecular database in pistachio breeding for DNA fingerprinting, discovering unique cultivar specific alleles and to identify quantitative trait loci related to important nut traits.

Molecular sexual determinants in Pistacia genus by KASP assay.

Pistacia is a genus of dioecious plant species whose trees can take 4-5years to reach the economically valuable fruit-bearing stage. The fruits have great importance as raw material in the food, healthcare, and baking industries. For that reason, the identification of individual plants in the early juvenile period for the pollination and positioning of trees is crucial for growers. The objective of this study is to develop markers for each Pistacia species that can help in screening the sex of plant seedlings before they reach the reproductive stage, without waiting for morphological characteristics to appear. Within this context, by using the power of the kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) assay technology as a marker screening system, we successfully discriminated seven out of eight Pistacia species: P. atlantica, P. integerrima, P. khinjuk, P. mutica, P. terebinthus, P. vera, and P. lentiscus. We used a high-throughput DNA sequence read archive (SRA) to assemble a reference genome that was employed in our studies as a de novo bioinformatics method. Four genomic regions from SRA and three single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) positions from Kafkas et al. BMC Genomics 16:98, 2015) were selected and sequenced with collected plant material from predominantly the Antepfıstıgı Research Institute Collection Garden, and eight species were aligned intraspecifically for SNP mining. In total, 12 SNP markers were converted to KASP markers, and 5 of them (SNP-PIS-133396, SNP-PIS-167992, P-ATL-91951-565, P-INT-91951-256, P-KHI-91951-115) showed clear allelic discrimination between male and female plants. SNP-PIS-167992 and P-ATL-91951-565 were identified as the best marker assays because they showed allelic frequency differences for all individuals and for both homozygous and heterozygous characters. These markers could be the most comprehensive ones for the whole genus because they showed discriminative power for several species. This study is the first one to use the KASP assay for sex discrimination in Pistacia species, and it can be regarded as a precursor study for sex discrimination by KASP for plants in general.

Cartography and spatial distribution of the genus Pistacia in Souk Ahras, Northeast Algeria

Abstract. Barour AA. 2021. Cartography and spatial distribution of the genus Pistacia in Souk Ahras, Northeast Algeria. Biodiversitas 23: 286-290. In 2020, a study mapped two species of the genus Pistacia, viz. Pistacia atlantica Desf. and Pistacia vera L. in the Wilaya of Souk Ahras situated in the northeast of Algeria. The study was based on the determination of the geographic coordinates of each individual and mapping their spatial distribution by using MapInfo Pro 12.0.2 software. The results showed that Atlas Pistachio was mainly distributed over four localities viz. Batoum, Ben Attia, Sidi Fredj and Ouled Moumen. However, the Pistachio nut species were distributed over two localities in the south of the Wilaya of Souk Ahras, viz. Ben Attia and Sidi Fredj. The locality of Ben Attia was characterized by a more or less random distribution of trees, mostly young plants. At thr same time, the structure was heterogeneous across the other stations, with the dominance of large and old trees. The spacing between the trees of the Atlas Pistachio varied from one region to another, ranging from 3 to 189 m. At the Ouled Moumen area, the distribution of wild Pistachio trees formed circles with very close distances between neighboring feet. On the other hand, the trees were spaced and distributed in a linear manner across the other stations.

GENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PISTACIA VERA L. F1 HYBRIDS AND THEIR PARENTS (P. VERA×HERMAPHRODITE GENOTYPES OF P. ATLANTICA) USING SSR MARKERS

This research was conducted at the Scientific Agricultural Research center in Sweida province during (2014-2015). Breeding program was assessed in the aim to insert the bisexual phenomena of P.atlantica species (3 different hermaphrodite genotypes PA12, PA35, and PA37 as donators of pollen grains) to the commercial cultivars of P.vera (Ashouri and Batouri). Genetic relationships among the previous species and their progenies (F1, 6 genotypes of crossing program) was studied using 20 specific SSRs primer pairs, 16 of them were able to detect PCR amplification. Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) segregation produced 44 putative alleles, out of which 40 were polymorphic (90.91%). Genetic similarity between the hybrids and their parents were closer to their female than to their male parents except for the hybrid HB3,which revealed a genetic distance 0.37 with its female parent (Batouri cultivar FB) and 0.43 with its male parent (PA35 hermaphrodite P.atlantica genotype). The UPGMA cluster plots based on Jaccard’s coefficient grouped the genotypes into two main clusters. The number of alleles revealed by each SSR analysis ranged from 1 to 8, with a level of expected heterozygosity (He) 0.496, observed heterozygosity (Ho) 0.25, and Marker Index (MI) 19.84. These results suggested the efficiency of SSR markers for distinguishing lineage genetic studies in the Pistacia spp. in breeding programs to elicit new cultivars, in particularly the primer pairs Ptms-7, EPVM021, EPVM016, and EPVF019 which may form the platform to detect sex expression in the genus Pistacia.

Protective Effect of a Formulation Containing Pistacia atlantica Oleo-Gum-Resin and Honey on Experimental Model of Acetic Acid-Induced Colitis in Rats

Background and objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a recurrent chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. In Iranian traditional medicine, the oleo-gum-resin of the genus Pistacia is recommended for treatment of various diseases including gastrointestinal disorders. The present study investigated the therapeutic action of a combination of Pistacia atlantica subspecies kurdica oleo-gum-resin and honey in acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Methods: Pistacia atlantica oleo-gum-resin was mixed with honey. The mixture was suspended in distilled water. Following induction of colitis with 4% acetic acid in all animals, except in sham group,themixture was orally administered for two consecutive days at the concentrations of 100, 200, 400 mg/kg. Other groups included the control, sham and a standard group (dexamethasone). Microscopic and histopathologic examinations were conducted in inflamed colonic tissue. The inflammatory biomarkers of colitis including interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the gene expression level of toll like receptor-4 (TLR-4) were assessed. Results: Pistacia atlantica oleo-gum-resin+ honey induced significant progress in macroscopic and microscopic scores. Colonic levels of MPO, IL-6, and TNF-α significantly declined in rats treated with the mixture; while significant decrease in mucosal gene expression of TLR-4 and significant improvement of colitis were observed. Pistacia atlantica oleo-gum-resin (400 mg/kg) + honey (400 mg/kg)reduced inflammation of the bowel and colonic ulcer severity shown by downregulation of inflammation cytokines, reduction of neutrophil infiltration, and suppression of TLR-4 expression. Conclusion: The combination might be a promising supplement for treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Redesigning irrigated almond and pistachio cultivation: implications of a shift towards sustainable intensification

The global warming is increasing the variability of rainfall and temperature, peculiarly, in arid and semiarid environments worlwide. Alterations in precipitation patterns and evapotranspiration in these areas will provoke an augmentation in the water requirements for crops, therefore, a collapse in the water resources systems is contemplated. This work presents the deficit irrigation as an adaptation tool for water shortage in reducing the vulnerability of woody-fruit crops in the Mediteraean area. In this context, almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) and pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) are traditional Mediterranean crops well-adapted to rainfed conditions with highly producer potential under irrigation, therefore, both fruit crops are convenient alternative due to its congenital response to water-stress. In general, moderate deficit irrigation technique enables to save about 30% of irrigation water at yield reductions below 20%. That is, the application of deficit irrigation could be recommended especially in those areas where the full water requeriments for crops are not available due to environmental constrains. In addition, the success of deficit irrigation is based on relevant knowledge of crop phenological development and its physiological reaction to water stress. Thus, the implementation of properly redesign of irrigated fruit plantations under climate change is vital, in order to mitigate the impact on yield, increase water-use efficiency, and preserve or improve the production quality.