Mediterranean-type biomes characterized by warm summers with a distinct drought period lasting
from 2 up to 10 months occur in several world regions including the Mediterranean basin, S-California,
Chile, S-Africa and SW-Australia. All these areas are covered by a peculiar and hyper-diverse vegetation
dominated by evergreen trees and shrubs with small and coriaceous leaves. Drought adaptation of
Mediterranean plants relies on different mechanisms including deep rooting patterns, avoidance or resistance
of cavitation-induced embolism, compensation or repair of embolism-induced hydraulic damage.
The complementarity and/or co-occurrence of these physiological traits in different species inhabiting
Mediterranean biomes is probably the basis for high plant biodiversity in these fascinating habitats.
Ongoing climate changes, leading to enhanced frequency and intensity of drought episodes in Mediterranean
biomes, represent a major threat to future conservation of these fragile ecosystems, especially if
future harsher climate conditions will overcome the drought resistance limits of Mediterranean plants.
Current knowledge about drought resistance mechanisms as well as about processes leading to decline
and death of woody plants under extreme climatic conditions is revised and directions for future research
are suggested.
