Dataset Information

In situ estimation of genetic variation of functional and ecological traits in Quercus petraea and Q.robur.

ABSTRACT: background:Predicting the evolutionary potential of natural tree populations requires the estimation of heritability and genetic correlations among traits on which selection acts, as differences in evolutionary success between species may rely on differences for these genetic parameters. In situ estimates are expected to be more accurate than measures done under controlled conditions which do not reflect the natural environmental variance. aims:The aim of the current study was to estimate three genetic parameters (i.e. heritability, evolvability and genetic correlations) in a natural mixed oak stand composed of Quercus petraea and Quercus robur about 100 years old, for 58 traits of ecological and functional relevance (growth, reproduction, phenology, physiology, resilience, structure, morphology and defence). methods:First we estimated genetic parameters directly in situ using realized genomic relatedness of adult trees and parentage relationships over two generations to estimate the traits additive variance. Secondly, we benefited from existing ex situ experiments (progeny tests and conservation collection) installed with the same populations, thus allowing comparisons of in situ heritability estimates with more traditional methods. results:Heritability and evolvability estimates obtained with different methods varied substantially and showed large confidence intervals, however we found that in situ were less precise than ex situ estimates, and assessments over two generations (with deeper relatedness) improved estimates of heritability while large sampling sizes are needed for accurate estimations. At the biological level, heritability values varied moderately across different ecological and functional categories of traits, and genetic correlations among traits were conserved over the two species. conclusion:We identified limits for using realized genomic relatedness in natural stands to estimate the genetic variance, given the overall low variance of genetic relatedness and the rather low sampling sizes of currently used long term genetic plots in forestry. These limits can be overcome if larger sample sizes are considered, or if the approach is extended over the next generation.

SUBMITTER: Alexandre H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7136077 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

<i>In situ</i> estimation of genetic variation of functional and ecological traits in <i>Quercus petraea</i> and <i>Q.robur</i>.

Alexandre Hermine H Truffaut Laura L Ducousso Alexis A Louvet Jean-Marc JM Nepveu Gérard G Torres-Ruiz José M JM Lagane Frédéric F Firmat Cyril C Musch Brigitte B Delzon Sylvain S Kremer Antoine A

Tree genetics & genomes 20200201

<h4>Background</h4>Predicting the evolutionary potential of natural tree populations requires the estimation of heritability and genetic correlations among traits on which selection acts, as differences in evolutionary success between species may rely on differences for these genetic parameters. <i>In situ</i> estimates are expected to be more accurate than measures done under controlled conditions which do not reflect the natural environmental variance.<h4>Aims</h4>The aim of the current study ...[more]

PMID: 32256274

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Project description:Abstract Oak regeneration is jeopardized by purple moor grass, a well-known competitive perennial grass in the temperate forests of Western Europe. Below-ground interactions regarding resource acquisition and interference have been demonstrated and have led to new questions about the negative impact of purple moor grass on ectomycorrhizal colonization. The objective was to examine the effects of moor grass on root system size and ectomycorrhization rate of oak seedlings as well as consequences on nitrogen (N) content in oak and soil. Oak seedlings and moor grass tufts were planted together or separately in pots under semi-controlled conditions (irrigated and natural light) and harvested 1 year after planting. Biomass, N content in shoot and root in oak and moor grass as well as number of lateral roots and ectomycorrhizal rate in oak were measured. Biomass in both oak shoot and root was reduced when planting with moor grass. Concurrently, oak lateral roots number and ectomycorrhization rate decreased, along with a reduction in N content in mixed-grown oak. An interference mechanism of moor grass is affecting oak seedlings performance through reduction in oak lateral roots number and its ectomycorrhization, observed in conjunction with a lower growth and N content in oak. By altering both oak roots and mycorrhizas, moor grass appears to be a species with a high allelopathic potential. More broadly, these results show the complexity of interspecific interactions that involve various ecological processes involving the soil microbial community and need to be explored in situ. Interactions between plants can involve a wide variety of mechanisms. Oak regeneration failure in the presence of moor grass in European temperate forests demonstrated not only competition by exploitation but also interference and even facilitation, allowing the discovery of an antagonistic interaction. In this paper, we highlight a new target of the oak–moor grass interaction: oak ectomycorrhizae. We show that in the presence of moor grass, young oaks have a lower: (i) total biomass, (ii) number of lateral roots, (iii) ectomycorrhization rate and at the same time (iv) a lower nitrogen content than oaks placed without moor grass.

Dataset Information

In situ estimation of genetic variation of functional and ecological traits in Quercus petraea and Q.robur.

Publications

<i>In situ</i> estimation of genetic variation of functional and ecological traits in <i>Quercus petraea</i> and <i>Q.robur</i>.

Similar Datasets

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