This study investigated the impact of simulated dust storms on the leaf physiological and stem wood anatomical features of Pistacia atlantica Desf. seedlings. Two-year-old seedlings, sourced from a state nursery, were placed in a simulated dust chamber in a completely randomized design. They were exposed to dust at concentrations of 5,000, 7,000, and 9,000 mg/m³ over a 10-week period, with applications spaced at 12-day intervals. A control group of ten seedlings was maintained under identical conditions without dust exposure. The results showed that dust exposure significantly affected wood formation, reducing annual ring widths and fiber sizes while increasing fiber wall thickness. Increasing dust concentrations reduced chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments but increased pH, carbohydrate levels, and the activity of key antioxidant enzymes. The study concludes that dust strongly inhibits seedling wood growth, providing foundational data for understanding how trees adapt physio-anatomically to dust stress and climate change.
