The JIP test: A tool to screen the capacity of plant adaptation to climate change.

“Adaptation” and “acclimation” are strategies that forests enact to cope with climate change. They consist in genotypic and phenotypic adjustments which allow plants to grow and reproduce successfully in a stressful environment. Both these aspects can be actively promoted by reforestation programs. The key phases are: (i) selection of the most suitable provenances and genotypes; (ii) adoption of adequate cultural techniques in nursery; (iii) monitoring of the plantations. Physiological techniques may be useful to assist all the phases of this process. Among these, chlorophyll fluorescence based techniques, and namely the so-called “JIP-test”, are relevant to monitor the stress conditions and the effectiveness of the cultural practices. JIP-test is a non-destructive, non-invasive, informative, very fast and inexpensive technique, and can be used to support the cultural decision.