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Pinus halepensis Mill. crown development and fruiting declined with repeated drought in Mediterranean France

Authors
  • Girard, François1
  • Vennetier, Michel1, 2
  • Guibal, Frédéric3
  • Corona, Christophe3
  • Ouarmim, Samira1
  • Herrero, Asier4
  • 1 CEMAGREF, Ecosystèmes Méditerranéens et Risques, 3275 Route de Cézanne CS 40061, Cedex 5, Aix en Provence, 13182, France , Cedex 5, Aix en Provence (France)
  • 2 ECCOREV FR 3098, Aix-Marseille University, Aix-en-Provence, France , Aix-en-Provence (France)
  • 3 IMEP, Faculté des Sciences de St Jérôme, Avenue Escadrille Normandie-Niemen, Boite 441, Marseille, Cedex 20, 13397, France , Marseille, Cedex 20 (France)
  • 4 Facultad de Ciencias, Campus de Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, Departamento de Ecología, Granada, 18071, Spain , Granada (Spain)
Type
Published Article
Journal
European Journal of Forest Research
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Publication Date
Oct 14, 2011
Volume
131
Issue
4
Pages
919–931
Identifiers
DOI: 10.1007/s10342-011-0565-6
Source
Springer Nature
Keywords
License
Yellow

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to describe and quantify Aleppo pine aerial primary growth processes and to assess their relationships with climate. Primary growth (branch length growth, branching rate, polycyclism, needle number and size, fruiting), i.e. crown development and reproduction, was reconstructed for the last 16 years in Mediterranean France. From 1998 to 2007, climate has been far hotter and drier than normal in South-eastern France. All variables related to crown development and fruiting, as well as radial growth, significantly declined after 2003 heat wave and during repeated droughts from 2004 to 2007. A partial recovery of most parameters occurred from 2008 to 2010 on vigorous branches while frail branches showed less improvement. The limited crown development during unfavourable years may significantly hold back tree potential photosynthetic biomass for several following years and contribute to a slower than expected recovery of tree growth or to delayed die-back.

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