Climate Change and Plant Anatomy: Assessment of Adaptability Potential of Walnut (Juglans regia) Grown in Swat, Pakistan
Climate Change and Plant Anatomy: Assessment of Adaptability Potential of Walnut (Juglans regia) Grown in Swat, Pakistan
Khalid Hussain1*, Tanvir Hussain2 and Muhammad Inamullah Khan3
ABSTRACT
Trees specie s as living entity response to climate and record variations in climate; thus are commonly used to study climate change. The aim of this study was to explore the dendrochronological and dendroclimatological potential of broad-leaved species, specifically Walnut (Juglans regia) in dry tem perate fore st zone, Swat, Pakistan. Juglansregia was selected to assess the resilience and adaptability potential of the species in the scenario of climate change, because no broad-leaved species have been studied so far in dry temperate forest in Swat region to establish climate-growth relationship. To that objectives, chronologies and time series were developed of annual rings and vessel areas of the species. The results revealed the high degree of annual variations in the species due to climatic fluctuations. Dendrochronological potential of the species is found moderate thus the chronology may be used as substitute to study climatic variations. Tree ring width (TRW) and climate relationship was found relatively significant showing limitations of climate in the radial growth. Precipitation found as a strong growth limiting factor in comparison to temperature. Beyond the year 2000 C.E, the rainfall ratio was found to be on the decline, whereas the tem perature was on the rise; this phenomenon triggered fast radial growth. Moreover, increase in the diameter of the vessels was observed in the species more probably as a result of rise in mean annual temperature and decline in the precipitation in the area.
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