STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL VARIABILITY OF HOLM OAK (QUERCUS ILEX L.) IN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS OF WATER AVAILABILITY

We must protect existing forests and take the necessary measures for afforestation for fight with global warming. That is why in this abstract we studied the variation of morphological and physiological parameters and adaptation ability of the holm oak species (Quercus ilex L.) in different ecological conditions, which introduced to Azerbaijan. Our goal is to determine the feasibility of introducing holm oak to the natural flora of Azerbaijan. Result of morphological polymorphism (CV(LA)=47.29%; CV(F)=38.63%; CV(LL)=24.52%) and indexes of foliar moisture (RWC=89.34±2.90%; LMA=11.74±1.34 mg cm2 (in Shaki); RWC=71.34±2.92%; LMA=9.23±0.97 mg cm2 ) allows us to say that it is possible to transfer holm oak to natural areas. In our study, holm oak showed tolerance to the drought of Baku, and cold weather of Sheki. These suggest that holm oak can be successfully used in afforestation and transferred to the natural flora in any region of Azerbaijan, including the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which has extremely hot summers and extremely cold winters.