Biometry of Acorn of the Putative Oak from Akfadou Forest in North Africa (Algeria)

Abstract

In this study, we are interested in the acorn biometry of the putative oak of Akfadou forest in Algeria. We measured the size of acorns of 34 putative species' trees collected from 9 stands in the Akfadou forest massif (Algeria) and then we evaluated the growth of the seedlings by sowing the acorns in a nursery. We found that the performance of oak seedlings is strongly influenced by a “stand effect” and a “close pure species effect.” Indeed, the position and the ecological region influence acorn morphology. The growth of putative oaks in the nursery is remarkably homogeneous in terms of seedling height and diameter. However, the “close pure species” effect appears in the case of the high altitude stand where holm oak is present. This diversity is probably the consequence of genetic variations and/or environmental conditions of the stands. With climate change and decreasing precipitation, the frequency of dry years will only increase. These putative hybrids trees could constitute a future alternative for reforestation, improvement, and diversification of species in Algeria.