glands was an energy-consuming process (Ma et al. 2011). The process from cell
division to the formation of wall protuberance with energy consuming was explained
in Fig. 14.6.
14.3.2 Anatomical and Morphological Adaptation Strategies
of T. gallica to Abiotic Stress Conditions
T. gallica is an intelligent plant that operates many morphological modifications to
grow under stressed conditions.
14.3.2.1 Anatomical Adaptation to Drought Stress
T. gallica resistance to drought stress manifests by (i) morphological and physiological modification induced by drought on aerial and root parts; (ii) plant biomasses
under drought conditions and (iii) root depth under prolonged drought stress
conditions (Lavaine et al. 2011a). Certainly, T. gallica is considered as optional
phreatophytes, which gives them better efficiency of water extraction in soils. They
feed in the tablecloth but also in the unsaturated compartment and can switch from
one food to another without significant damage (Smith et al. 1998). This faculty to
use multiple water sources minimizes the drought stress effect (Lavaine et al. 2011a).
In addition, root architecture in itself is also particularly geared towards the acquisition of resources. T. gallica roots are extremely abundant and spread out, their lateral
extension exceeding by four to seven meters the diameter of the crown of the tree
near the water table, which allows them to overcome frequent drying of the upper
layers. In the event of a dropping from the water table, the species quickly emit a
large number of roots towards the water table in order to counter water deficiency
(Horton and Clark 2001). In addition, Lavaine et al. (2011a) recorded a recapture
rate of T. gallica under drought stress about 96% with a reducing in aerial biomass
compared to root biomass. This suggested that the resources captured are thus
mainly allocated to the enlargement of the rhizosphere, and to the reduction of
evaporative surface. Indeed, stomata are reduced to overcome drought stress
(Abbruzzese et al. 2013) and absorb condensed quantities of water therefore the
opening of the ostiole becomes small, which decreases the exchange with the
external environment (Abbruzzese et al. 2013; Marius and Toma 2017). That
suggested the plantation of T. gallica in environments subject to significant
variations in the phreatic level (Lavaine et al. 2011b).
14.3.2.2 Anatomical Adaptation to Water Erosion
The aerial architecture of T. gallica made up of many flexible and divided branches
allows to appropriate fine sediments and to reduce the current. This flexibility lets
plants to lie down in the event of an inundation, inducing a carpet effect (soil
protection) and a comb effect (reducing the current and capturing sediment) while
minimizing the possibilities of scratching by the current (Lavaine et al. 2011a). In
fact, T. gallica easily survives sediment recovery during floods emitting adventitious
roots from buried stems or developing stems from the collar (Muller 1995; Bill et al.
14 Biological Overview and Adaptability Strategies of Tamarix Plants, T.. . .
413
division to the formation of wall protuberance with energy consuming was explained
in Fig. 14.6.
14.3.2 Anatomical and Morphological Adaptation Strategies
of T. gallica to Abiotic Stress Conditions
T. gallica is an intelligent plant that operates many morphological modifications to
grow under stressed conditions.
14.3.2.1 Anatomical Adaptation to Drought Stress
T. gallica resistance to drought stress manifests by (i) morphological and physiological modification induced by drought on aerial and root parts; (ii) plant biomasses
under drought conditions and (iii) root depth under prolonged drought stress
conditions (Lavaine et al. 2011a). Certainly, T. gallica is considered as optional
phreatophytes, which gives them better efficiency of water extraction in soils. They
feed in the tablecloth but also in the unsaturated compartment and can switch from
one food to another without significant damage (Smith et al. 1998). This faculty to
use multiple water sources minimizes the drought stress effect (Lavaine et al. 2011a).
In addition, root architecture in itself is also particularly geared towards the acquisition of resources. T. gallica roots are extremely abundant and spread out, their lateral
extension exceeding by four to seven meters the diameter of the crown of the tree
near the water table, which allows them to overcome frequent drying of the upper
layers. In the event of a dropping from the water table, the species quickly emit a
large number of roots towards the water table in order to counter water deficiency
(Horton and Clark 2001). In addition, Lavaine et al. (2011a) recorded a recapture
rate of T. gallica under drought stress about 96% with a reducing in aerial biomass
compared to root biomass. This suggested that the resources captured are thus
mainly allocated to the enlargement of the rhizosphere, and to the reduction of
evaporative surface. Indeed, stomata are reduced to overcome drought stress
(Abbruzzese et al. 2013) and absorb condensed quantities of water therefore the
opening of the ostiole becomes small, which decreases the exchange with the
external environment (Abbruzzese et al. 2013; Marius and Toma 2017). That
suggested the plantation of T. gallica in environments subject to significant
variations in the phreatic level (Lavaine et al. 2011b).
14.3.2.2 Anatomical Adaptation to Water Erosion
The aerial architecture of T. gallica made up of many flexible and divided branches
allows to appropriate fine sediments and to reduce the current. This flexibility lets
plants to lie down in the event of an inundation, inducing a carpet effect (soil
protection) and a comb effect (reducing the current and capturing sediment) while
minimizing the possibilities of scratching by the current (Lavaine et al. 2011a). In
fact, T. gallica easily survives sediment recovery during floods emitting adventitious
roots from buried stems or developing stems from the collar (Muller 1995; Bill et al.
14 Biological Overview and Adaptability Strategies of Tamarix Plants, T.. . .
413