Drought response of five conifer species under contrasting water availability suggests high vulnerability of Norway spruce and European larch

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 3184-3199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Lévesque ◽  
Matthias Saurer ◽  
Rolf Siegwolf ◽  
Britta Eilmann ◽  
Peter Brang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Drought Response ◽  
European Larch ◽  
Conifer Species

scholarly journals Evolvability of Drought Response in Four Native and Non-native Conifers: Opportunities for Forest and Genetic Resource Management in Europe

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvio Schueler ◽  
Jan-Peter George ◽  
Sandra Karanitsch-Ackerl ◽  
Konrad Mayer ◽  
Raphael Thomas Klumpp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Tree Breeding ◽  
Drought Response ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
European Larch ◽  
Drought Sensitivity ◽  
Seed Transfer ◽  
Intraspecific Genetic Variation

Intraspecific genetic variation in drought response is expected to play an important role in determining the persistence of tree populations in global change as it (1) allows for spontaneous selection and local adaptation of tree populations, (2) supports assisted seed transfer of less-drought-sensitive provenance, and (3) enables the integration of drought-sensitivity traits into tree breeding. Estimating the potential of such adaptation options requires quantitative genetic knowledge of drought sensitivity across significant parts of species distributions and a comparative assessment of genetic variation within economically and ecologically important tree species. We quantified genetic variation within and among populations of four conifers growing within common garden experiments in the drought-prone eastern Austria. This region experienced three strong drought periods between 1980 and 2010 that resulted in significant reductions in radial growth. Among the four tested species, Douglas-fir revealed the highest resistance during drought and silver fir the best recovery after drought, while European larch and Norway spruce showed the lowest resistance. High genetic variation among populations and phenotypic stability across all three drought events was found for Norway spruce and silver fir, but not for the other species. Heritability and evolvability of drought traits, both approximated via genetic repeatability, revealed strong differences among populations of all four species. Repeatability and evolvability for resistance were highest in Norway spruce and, for recovery, highest in European larch. Our comparison indicates that the mean drought sensitivity of a species is not related to the intraspecific genetic variation in drought response. Thus, also highly drought-sensitive species, such as Norway spruce and European larch, harbor significant genetic variation in drought response within and among populations to justify targeted tree breeding, assisted gene flow, and supportive forest management to foster local adaptations to future conditions.

Stem Biomass Growth of Four Plantation-Grown Conifer Species in Southwestern Wisconsin

1991 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stith T. Gower ◽  
Jonathan W. Chapman ◽  
John C. Volin ◽  
Adrian E. Hagen
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Biomass Growth ◽  
Accumulation Rates ◽  
White Pine ◽  
European Larch ◽  
Conifer Species ◽  
Stem Biomass

Abstract Red and white pine, European larch and Norway spruce were destructively harvested from 27-year-old plantations in southwestern Wisconsin and regression equations were developed to estimate stem biomass accumulation rates for the four species. Total stem biomass accumulation differed significantly (P < 0.05) among the four species and ranged from 51.8 tons/ac for Norway spruce to 75.1 tons/ac for European larch. Annual stem biomass increment also differed among the four species and was significantly greater (P < 0.001) in 1987 than 1988 for all four conifers. The large decrease in tree growth was attributed to the severe drought of 1988. North J. Appl. For. 8(1):26-28

scholarly journals Time since death and decay rate constants of Norway spruce and European larch deadwood in subalpine forests determined using dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1537-1552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Petrillo ◽  
Paolo Cherubini ◽  
Giulia Fravolini ◽  
Marco Marchetti ◽  
Judith Ascher-Jenull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Decay Rate ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Matrix Model ◽  
Rate Constants ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Larix Decidua ◽  
European Larch ◽  
14C Dating

Abstract. Due to the large size (e.g. sections of tree trunks) and highly heterogeneous spatial distribution of deadwood, the timescales involved in the coarse woody debris (CWD) decay of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Larix decidua Mill. in Alpine forests are largely unknown. We investigated the CWD decay dynamics in an Alpine valley in Italy using the chronosequence approach and the five-decay class system that is based on a macromorphological assessment. For the decay classes 1–3, most of the dendrochronological samples were cross-dated to assess the time that had elapsed since tree death, but for decay classes 4 and 5 (poorly preserved tree rings) radiocarbon dating was used. In addition, density, cellulose, and lignin data were measured for the dated CWD. The decay rate constants for spruce and larch were estimated on the basis of the density loss using a single negative exponential model, a regression approach, and the stage-based matrix model. In the decay classes 1–3, the ages of the CWD were similar and varied between 1 and 54 years for spruce and 3 and 40 years for larch, with no significant differences between the classes; classes 1–3 are therefore not indicative of deadwood age. This seems to be due to a time lag between the death of a standing tree and its contact with the soil. We found distinct tree-species-specific differences in decay classes 4 and 5, with larch CWD reaching an average age of 210 years in class 5 and spruce only 77 years. The mean CWD rate constants were estimated to be in the range 0.018 to 0.022 y−1 for spruce and to about 0.012 y−1 for larch. Snapshot sampling (chronosequences) may overestimate the age and mean residence time of CWD. No sampling bias was, however, detectable using the stage-based matrix model. Cellulose and lignin time trends could be derived on the basis of the ages of the CWD. The half-lives for cellulose were 21 years for spruce and 50 years for larch. The half-life of lignin is considerably higher and may be more than 100 years in larch CWD. Consequently, the decay of Picea abies and Larix decidua is very low. Several uncertainties, however, remain: 14C dating of CWD from decay classes 4 and 5 and having a pre-bomb age is often difficult (large age range due to methodological constraints) and fall rates of both European larch and Norway spruce are missing.

scholarly journals Drought Stress Described by Transcriptional Responses of Picea Abies under Pathogen Heterobasidion Parviporum Attack

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xenia Hao-Yi Yeoh ◽  
Blessing Durodola ◽  
Kathrin Blumenstein ◽  
Eeva Terhonen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Differentially Expressed Gene ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Gene Expressions ◽  
Transcriptional Responses ◽  
Water Group

The major threats to the sustainable supply of forest tree products are adverse climate, pests and diseases. Climate change, exemplified by increased drought, poses a unique threat to global forest health. This is attributed to the unpredictable behavior of forest pathosystems, which can favor fungal pathogens over the host under persistent drought stress conditions in the future. Currently, the effects of drought on tree resistance against pathogens are hypothetical, thus research is needed to identify these correlations. Norway spruce (Picea abies) is one of the most economically important tree species in Europe, and is considered highly vulnerable to changes in climate. Dedicated experiments to investigate how disturbances will affect the Norway spruce - Heterobasidion sp. pathosystem are important, in order to develop different strategies to limit the spread of H. annosum s.l. under the predicted climate change. Here, we report a transcriptional study to compare Norway spruce gene expressions to evaluate the effects of water availability and the infection of Heterobasidion parviporum. We performed inoculation studies of three-year-old saplings in a greenhouse (purchased from a nursery). Norway spruce saplings were treated in either high (+) or low (-) water groups: high water group received double the water amount than the low water group. RNA was extracted and sequenced. Similarly, we quantified gene expression levels of candidate genes in biotic stress and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways using qRT-PCR, through which we discovered a unique preferential defense response of H. parviporum-infected Norway spruce under drought stress at the molecular level. Disturbances related to water availability, especially low water conditions can have negative effects on the tree host and benefit the infection ability of the pathogens in the host. From our RNA-seq analysis, 114 differentially expressed gene regions were identified between high (+) and low (-) water groups under pathogen attack. None of these gene pathways were identified to be differentially expressed from both non-treated and mock-control treatments between high (+) and low (-) water groups. Finally, only four genes were found to be associated with drought in all treatments.

Variation and genetics of ribonucleases and phosphodiesterases in conifer seeds

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 711-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Mejnartowicz ◽  
F. Bergmann
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Test Material ◽  
Starch Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Conifer Species ◽  
Endosperm Tissue ◽  
Isoenzyme Variation ◽  
Conifer Seeds ◽  
Starch Gel

Using techniques of starch gel electrophoresis, isoenzymes of ribonuclease 11 (RNase, EC 3.1.4.23) and phosphodiesterase I (PDase, EC 3.1.4.1) could be identified in endosperm tissue from dry seeds of three conifer species: Norway spruce (Picea abies). Scots pine (Pinus silvestris), and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). The RNase patterns mostly exhibited a relatively great number of isoenzyme bands as well as a considerable tree-to-tree variation, whereas the PDase system revealed only one enzyme zone in each of the three seed species. Furthermore, an isoenzyme variation within the PDase zones appeared to be very infrequent and could only be detected in Norway spruce and Douglas fir. However, the isoenzyme patterns of RNase as well as PDase showed significant differences between the conifer species. The genetic basis of the intraspecific isoenzyme variations could be easily analyzed, since the test material (seed endosperm) represented haploid tissues resulting from macrogametophytes after fertilization. Hence, it was possible to identify three polymorphic RNase gene loci in Douglas fir seeds, two in Scots pine seeds, and one in Norway spruce seeds. The PDase zone in each conifer species was controlled by one gene locus which revealed allelic forms only in Norway spruce and Douglas fir seeds.

Effects of climate change on evapotranspiration and soil water availability in Norway spruce forests in southern Finland: an ecosystem model based approach

Ecohydrology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen-Ming Ge ◽  
Seppo Kellomäki ◽  
Xiao Zhou ◽  
Kai-Yun Wang ◽  
Heli Peltola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Ecosystem Model ◽  
Soil Water Availability ◽  
Spruce Forests ◽  
Model Based
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