Scientific Facts on Biochemical and Physiological Traits in Olive Trees in Relation to Climate change

Abstract

Libya is located in the most arid and semi-arid regions in the world, so climate change research should be the main research issue. The climate is dry in Libya, and within Libya, as many as five different climatic zones have been recognized, but the dominant climatic influences are Mediterranean and Saharan. The latest report of the National Climate Center for 2010 indicates that all regions of Libya, specifically in the western region, went through a clear dry season, with a rise in temperatures and a decrease in rainfall during the months of November and December of 2009 compared to the previous general rates and even the coming periods. Water is the most precious natural resource in Libya, and water shortage is one of the major environmental challenges that faced Libya's modernization in the past and will remain so in the future as well. The shortage threatens Libya's social and economic development in the twenty-first century, and is one of the most prominent indicators. Today, olive groves face new challenges, and threats, because of ongoing ‎climate change. Higher temperatures and drought and their increasing ‎frequency of Extreme weather events, such as heat waves and heavy rain are some of the problems that olive growers face and will ‎have to face in the coming decades.‎ The Mediterranean basin is expected to witness significant climate changes in temperatures, rainfall, increased salinity, and an abundance of diseases and pests. The most extreme scenarios expect a rise of about 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the twenty-first century if goals to mitigate global warming are not achieved. Climate change disrupts olive tree physiology by altering key biochemical processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, and antioxidant activity. It induces oxidative stress, leading to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and cellular damage. Hormonal balance is also affected, particularly hormones like abscisic acid, auxins, and gibberellins, which regulate growth, stress response, and fruit development. At the intracellular level, climate stress impacts enzyme activity, membrane stability, and metabolic pathways. These combined effects reduce tree productivity, impair fruit quality, and weaken overall plant resilience.