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Ahrens CW, Murray K, Mazanec RA, Ferguson S, Jones A, Tissue DT, Byrne M, Borevitz JO, Rymer PD. Genomic determinants, architecture, and constraints in drought-related traits in Corymbia calophylla. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:640. [PMID: 38937661 PMCID: PMC11209971 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10531-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drought adaptation is critical to many tree species persisting under climate change, however our knowledge of the genetic basis for trees to adapt to drought is limited. This knowledge gap impedes our fundamental understanding of drought response and application to forest production and conservation. To improve our understanding of the genomic determinants, architecture, and trait constraints, we assembled a reference genome and detected ~ 6.5 M variants in 432 phenotyped individuals for the foundational tree Corymbia calophylla. RESULTS We found 273 genomic variants determining traits with moderate heritability (h2SNP = 0.26-0.64). Significant variants were predominantly in gene regulatory elements distributed among several haplotype blocks across all chromosomes. Furthermore, traits were constrained by frequent epistatic and pleiotropic interactions. CONCLUSIONS Our results on the genetic basis for drought traits in Corymbia calophylla have several implications for the ability to adapt to climate change: (1) drought related traits are controlled by complex genomic architectures with large haplotypes, epistatic, and pleiotropic interactions; (2) the most significant variants determining drought related traits occurred in regulatory regions; and (3) models incorporating epistatic interactions increase trait predictions. Our findings indicate that despite moderate heritability drought traits are likely constrained by complex genomic architecture potentially limiting trees response to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin W Ahrens
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia.
- Cesar Australia, Brunswick, VIC, 3058, Australia.
| | - Kevin Murray
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - Richard A Mazanec
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA, 6151, Australia
| | - Scott Ferguson
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - Ashley Jones
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - David T Tissue
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia
| | - Margaret Byrne
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA, 6151, Australia
| | - Justin O Borevitz
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - Paul D Rymer
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia
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Müller M, Leuschner C, Weithmann G, Weigel R, Banzragch BE, Steiner W, Gailing O. A genome-wide genetic association study reveals SNPs significantly associated with environmental variables and specific leaf area in European beech. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2024; 176:e14334. [PMID: 38705836 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
European beech is negatively affected by climate change and a further growth decline is predicted for large parts of its distribution range. Despite the importance of this species, little is known about its genetic adaptation and especially the genetic basis of its physiological traits. Here, we used genotyping by sequencing to identify SNPs in 43 German European beech populations growing under different environmental conditions. In total, 28 of these populations were located along a precipitation and temperature gradient in northern Germany, and single tree-based hydraulic and morphological traits were available. We obtained a set of 13,493 high-quality SNPs that were used for environmental and SNP-trait association analysis. In total, 22 SNPs were identified that were significantly associated with environmental variables or specific leaf area (SLA). Several SNPs were located in genes related to stress response. The majority of the significant SNPs were located in non-coding (intergenic and intronic) regions. These may be in linkage disequilibrium with the causative coding or regulatory regions. Our study gives insights into the genetic basis of abiotic adaptation in European beech, and provides genetic resources that can be used in future studies on this species. Besides clear patterns of local adaptation to environmental conditions of the investigated populations, the analyzed morphological and hydraulic traits explained most of the explainable genetic variation. Thus, they could successfully be altered in tree breeding programs, which may help to increase the adaptation of European beech to changing environmental conditions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Müller
- University of Göttingen, Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Leuschner
- Department Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Center of Sustainable Land Use (CBL), Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Greta Weithmann
- Department Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Robert Weigel
- Department Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Ecological-Botanical Garden, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Bat-Enerel Banzragch
- Department Plant Ecology and Ecosystems Research, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Applied Vegetation Ecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Wilfried Steiner
- Department Forest Genetic Resources, Northwest German Forest Research Institute, Hann. Münden, Germany
| | - Oliver Gailing
- University of Göttingen, Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Center of Sustainable Land Use (CBL), Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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3
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Neycken A, Wohlgemuth T, Frei ER, Klesse S, Baltensweiler A, Lévesque M. Slower growth prior to the 2018 drought and a high growth sensitivity to previous year summer conditions predisposed European beech to crown dieback. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169068. [PMID: 38049004 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
The record-breaking drought in 2018 caused premature leaf discoloration and shedding (early browning) in many beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) dominated forests in Central Europe. However, a high degree of variability in drought response among individual beech trees was observed. While some trees were severely impacted by the prolonged water deficits and high temperatures, others remained vital with no or only minor signs of crown vitality loss. Why some beech trees were more susceptible to drought-induced crown damage than others and whether growth recovery is possible are poorly understood. Here, we aimed to identify growth characteristics associated with the variability in drought response between individual beech trees based on a sample of 470 trees in northern Switzerland. By combining tree growth measurements and crown condition assessments, we also investigated the possible link between crown dieback and growth recovery after drought. Beech trees with early browning exhibited an overall lower growth vigor before the 2018 drought than co-occurring vital beech trees. This lower vigor is mainly indicated by lower overall growth rates, stronger growth declines in the past decades, and higher growth-climate sensitivity. Particularly, warm previous year summer conditions negatively affected current growth of the early-browning trees. These findings suggest that the affected trees had less access to critical resources and were physiologically limited in their growth predisposing them to early browning. Following the 2018 drought, observed growth recovery potential corresponded to the amount of crown dieback and the local climatic water balance. Overall, our findings emphasize that beech-dominated forests in Central Europe are under increasing pressure from severe droughts, ultimately reducing the competitive ability of this species, especially on lowland sites with shallow soils and low water holding capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Neycken
- Silviculture Group, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, Universitätsstrasse 16, Zurich 8092, Switzerland.
| | - Thomas Wohlgemuth
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Esther R Frei
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Alpine Environment and Natural Hazards, WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland; Climate Change and Extremes in Alpine Regions Research Centre CERC, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Klesse
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andri Baltensweiler
- Forest Resources and Management, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Lévesque
- Silviculture Group, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, Universitätsstrasse 16, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
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4
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Marchesini A, Silverj A, Torre S, Rota-Stabelli O, Girardi M, Passeri I, Fracasso I, Sebastiani F, Vernesi C. First genome-wide data from Italian European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.): Strong and ancient differentiation between Alps and Apennines. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288986. [PMID: 37471380 PMCID: PMC10358878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is one of the most widespread forest trees in Europe whose distribution and intraspecific diversity has been largely shaped by repeated glacial cycles. Previous studies, mainly based on palaeobotanical evidence and a limited set of chloroplast and nuclear genetic markers, highlighted a complex phylogeographic scenario, with southern and western Europe characterized by a rather heterogeneous genetic structure, as a result of recolonization from different glacial refugia. Despite its ecological and economic importance, the genome of this broad-leaved tree has only recently been assembled, and its intra-species genomic diversity is still largely unexplored. Here, we performed whole-genome resequencing of nine Italian beech individuals sampled from two stands located in the Alpine and Apennine mountain ranges. We investigated patterns of genetic diversity at chloroplast, mitochondrial and nuclear genomes and we used chloroplast genomes to reconstruct a temporally-resolved phylogeny. Results allowed us to test European beech differentiation on a whole-genome level and to accurately date their divergence time. Our results showed comparable, relatively high levels of genomic diversity in the two populations and highlighted a clear differentiation at chloroplast, mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. The molecular clock analysis indicated an ancient split between the Alpine and Apennine populations, occurred between the Günz and the Riss glaciations (approximately 660 kyrs ago), suggesting a long history of separation for the two gene pools. This information has important conservation implications in the context of adaptation to ongoing climate changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Marchesini
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Porano (Terni), Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Andrea Silverj
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all’Adige, Italy
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Sara Torre
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
| | - Omar Rota-Stabelli
- Centre Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, San Michele all’Adige, Italy
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Plant Protection Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all’Adige (Trento), Italy
| | - Matteo Girardi
- Conservation Genomics Unit, Research and Innovation Centre- Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all’Adige (Trento), Italy
| | - Iacopo Passeri
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
| | - Ilaria Fracasso
- Forest Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre- Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all’Adige (Trento), Italy
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Federico Sebastiani
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection (IPSP), The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
| | - Cristiano Vernesi
- Forest Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre- Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all’Adige (Trento), Italy
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Müller M, Kües U, Budde KB, Gailing O. Applying molecular and genetic methods to trees and their fungal communities. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:2783-2830. [PMID: 36988668 PMCID: PMC10106355 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12480-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Forests provide invaluable economic, ecological, and social services. At the same time, they are exposed to several threats, such as fragmentation, changing climatic conditions, or increasingly destructive pests and pathogens. Trees, the inherent species of forests, cannot be viewed as isolated organisms. Manifold (micro)organisms are associated with trees playing a pivotal role in forest ecosystems. Of these organisms, fungi may have the greatest impact on the life of trees. A multitude of molecular and genetic methods are now available to investigate tree species and their associated organisms. Due to their smaller genome sizes compared to tree species, whole genomes of different fungi are routinely compared. Such studies have only recently started in forest tree species. Here, we summarize the application of molecular and genetic methods in forest conservation genetics, tree breeding, and association genetics as well as for the investigation of fungal communities and their interrelated ecological functions. These techniques provide valuable insights into the molecular basis of adaptive traits, the impacts of forest management, and changing environmental conditions on tree species and fungal communities and can enhance tree-breeding cycles due to reduced time for field testing. It becomes clear that there are multifaceted interactions among microbial species as well as between these organisms and trees. We demonstrate the versatility of the different approaches based on case studies on trees and fungi. KEY POINTS: • Current knowledge of genetic methods applied to forest trees and associated fungi. • Genomic methods are essential in conservation, breeding, management, and research. • Important role of phytobiomes for trees and their ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Müller
- Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Faculty for Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), University of Goettingen, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Ursula Kües
- Molecular Wood Biotechnology and Technical Mycology, Faculty for Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center of Sustainable Land Use (CBL), Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina B Budde
- Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Faculty for Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center of Sustainable Land Use (CBL), Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Gailing
- Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Faculty for Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), University of Goettingen, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
- Center of Sustainable Land Use (CBL), Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
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Mariotti B, Martini S, Raddi S, Ugolini F, Oliet JA, Jacobs DF, Maltoni A. Cultivation Using Coir Substrate and P or K Enriched Fertilizer Provides Higher Resistance to Drought in Ecologically Diverse Quercus Species. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:525. [PMID: 36771610 PMCID: PMC9920752 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nursery cultivation practices can be modified to increase resistance to water stress in forest seedlings following field establishment, which may be increasingly important under climate change. We evaluated the morphological (survival, growth) and physiological (chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf water potential) responses to water stress for three ecologically diverse Quercus species (Q. robur, Q. pubescens, and Q. ilex) with varying traits resulting from the combination of growing media (peat, coir) and fertilization (standard, P-enriched, K-enriched). For all species under water stress, seedlings grown in coir had generally higher growth than those grown in peat. Seedlings fertilized with P performed better, particularly for survival; conversely, K fertilization resulted in inconsistent findings. Such results could be explained by a combination of factors. P fertilization resulted in higher P accumulation in seedlings, while no K accumulation was observed in K fertilized seedlings. As expected, the more drought-sensitive species, Q. robur, showed the worst response, while Q. pubescens had a drought resistance equal or better to Q. ilex despite being classified as intermediate in drought resistance in Mediterranean environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Mariotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali—DAGRI, Università di Firenze, Via San Bonaventura 13, 50145 Firenze, Italy
| | - Sofia Martini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali—DAGRI, Università di Firenze, Via San Bonaventura 13, 50145 Firenze, Italy
| | - Sabrina Raddi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali—DAGRI, Università di Firenze, Via San Bonaventura 13, 50145 Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesca Ugolini
- Istituto per la Bioeconomia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Juan A. Oliet
- Departamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Douglass F. Jacobs
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Alberto Maltoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali—DAGRI, Università di Firenze, Via San Bonaventura 13, 50145 Firenze, Italy
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7
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Stefanini C, Csilléry K, Ulaszewski B, Burczyk J, Schaepman ME, Schuman MC. A novel synthesis of two decades of microsatellite studies on European beech reveals decreasing genetic diversity from glacial refugia. TREE GENETICS & GENOMES 2022; 19:3. [PMID: 36532711 PMCID: PMC9744708 DOI: 10.1007/s11295-022-01577-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Genetic diversity influences the evolutionary potential of forest trees under changing environmental conditions, thus indirectly the ecosystem services that forests provide. European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is a dominant European forest tree species that increasingly suffers from climate change-related die-back. Here, we conducted a systematic literature review of neutral genetic diversity in European beech and created a meta-data set of expected heterozygosity (He) from all past studies providing nuclear microsatellite data. We propose a novel approach, based on population genetic theory and a min-max scaling to make past studies comparable. Using a new microsatellite data set with unprecedented geographic coverage and various re-sampling schemes to mimic common sampling biases, we show the potential and limitations of the scaling approach. The scaled meta-dataset reveals the expected trend of decreasing genetic diversity from glacial refugia across the species range and also supports the hypothesis that different lineages met and admixed north of the European mountain ranges. As a result, we present a map of genetic diversity across the range of European beech which could help to identify seed source populations harboring greater diversity and guide sampling strategies for future genome-wide and functional investigations of genetic variation. Our approach illustrates how to combine information from several nuclear microsatellite data sets to describe patterns of genetic diversity extending beyond the geographic scale or mean number of loci used in each individual study, and thus is a proof-of-concept for synthesizing knowledge from existing studies also in other species. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11295-022-01577-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Stefanini
- Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Unit, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Dietikon, Switzerland
| | - Katalin Csilléry
- Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Unit, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Dietikon, Switzerland
| | - Bartosz Ulaszewski
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kazimierz Wielki University, Chodkiewicza 30, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Jarosław Burczyk
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kazimierz Wielki University, Chodkiewicza 30, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Michael E Schaepman
- Remote Sensing Laboratories, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Meredith C Schuman
- Remote Sensing Laboratories, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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8
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Klesse S, Wohlgemuth T, Meusburger K, Vitasse Y, von Arx G, Lévesque M, Neycken A, Braun S, Dubach V, Gessler A, Ginzler C, Gossner MM, Hagedorn F, Queloz V, Samblás Vives E, Rigling A, Frei ER. Long-term soil water limitation and previous tree vigor drive local variability of drought-induced crown dieback in Fagus sylvatica. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:157926. [PMID: 35985592 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing climate warming is increasing evapotranspiration, a process that reduces plant-available water and aggravates the impact of extreme droughts during the growing season. Such an exceptional hot drought occurred in Central Europe in 2018 and caused widespread defoliation in mid-summer in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests. Here, we recorded crown damage in 2021 in nine mature even-aged beech-dominated stands in northwestern Switzerland along a crown damage severity gradient (low, medium, high) and analyzed tree-ring widths of 21 mature trees per stand. We aimed at identifying predisposing factors responsible for differences in crown damage across and within stands such as tree growth characteristics (average growth rates and year-to-year variability) and site-level variables (mean canopy height, soil properties). We found that stand-level crown damage severity was strongly related to soil water availability, inferred from tree canopy height and plant available soil water storage capacity (AWC). Trees were shorter in drier stands, had higher year-to-year variability in radial growth, and showed higher growth sensitivity to moisture conditions of previous late summer than trees growing on soils with sufficient AWC, indicating that radial growth in these forests is principally limited by soil water availability. Within-stand variation of post-drought crown damage corresponded to growth rate and tree size (diameter at breast height, DBH), i.e., smaller and slower-growing trees that face more competition, were associated with increased crown damage after the 2018 drought. These findings point to tree vigor before the extreme 2018 drought (long-term relative growth rate) as an important driver of damage severity within and across stands. Our results suggest that European beech is less likely to be able to cope with future climate change-induced extreme droughts on shallow soils with limited water retention capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Klesse
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
| | - T Wohlgemuth
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - K Meusburger
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Y Vitasse
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - G von Arx
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - M Lévesque
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Neycken
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - S Braun
- Institute for Applied Plant Biology AG, Witterswil, Switzerland
| | - V Dubach
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - A Gessler
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - C Ginzler
- Land Change Science, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - M M Gossner
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - F Hagedorn
- Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - V Queloz
- Forest Health & Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - E Samblás Vives
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
| | - A Rigling
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - E R Frei
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; Alpine Environment and Natural Hazards, WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland; Climate Change and Extremes in Alpine Regions Research Centre CERC, 7260 Davos Dorf, Switzerland
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9
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Varsamis G, Adamidis GC, Merou T, Takos I, Tseniklidou K, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Papageorgiou AC. Changes in Watering Frequency Stimulate Differentiated Adaptive Responses among Seedlings of Different Beech Populations. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11020306. [PMID: 35205172 PMCID: PMC8868575 DOI: 10.3390/biology11020306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Future precipitation changes are expected to affect plant populations’ adaptive responses. In southern Europe, annual precipitation is expected to decline and become unpredictable with occasional extreme rainfall events. Although there are many studies investigating water deficit effects in beech populations, they mainly refer to water withholding and rewatering or limited watering for prolonged periods. There is a lack of information considering the effect of simulated changes in monthly precipitation distribution on plants. In our study, we aimed to elucidate whether simulated distribution differences in monthly precipitation, expected to prevail in 2050, affects the response of various adaptive traits in beech seedlings originating from sites with contrasting climatic conditions. We found significant population differences according to watering interactions in most of the stem anatomical traits, but only for leaf circularity regarding the morphological traits. Our results indicate that beech populations in the southernmost region of their European distribution may demonstrate high variability in adaptive responses towards climate change conditions. Abstract Seasonality, rather than annual precipitation levels, is expected to affect the adaptive responses of plant populations under future climate change. To estimate adaptive traits’ variation, we conducted a common garden experiment with two beech populations from contrasting climatic origins (Evros with longer drought intervals during summer and higher precipitation seasonality, and Drama representing a more temperate ecosystem). We simulated two different watering treatments (frequent vs. non-frequent) on beech seedlings, according to predicted monthly precipitation levels expected to prevail in 2050 by the CSIRO MK3.6 SRESA1B model, considering as reference area a natural beech stand in Mt. Rodopi, Greece. A series of morphological and stem anatomical traits were measured. Seedling survival was greater for the Evros population compared to that of Drama under non-frequent watering, while no difference in survival was detected under frequent watering. Leaf morphological traits were not generally affected by watering frequency except for leaf circularity, which was found to be lower under non-frequent watering for both populations. Stomata density in leaves was found to be higher in the Evros population and lower in the Drama population under non-frequent watering than frequent. Stem anatomical traits were higher under non-frequent watering for Evros but lower for the Drama population. Multivariate analyses clearly discriminated populations under non-frequent rather than frequent watering, indicating genetic adaptation to the population’s environment of origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Varsamis
- Department of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, 66100 Drama, Greece; (T.M.); (I.T.); (K.T.)
- Correspondence: (G.V.); (A.C.P.); Tel.: +30-25210-60473 (G.V.); +30-25510-30494 (A.C.P.)
| | - George C. Adamidis
- Section of Plant Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Rio, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | - Theodora Merou
- Department of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, 66100 Drama, Greece; (T.M.); (I.T.); (K.T.)
| | - Ioannis Takos
- Department of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, 66100 Drama, Greece; (T.M.); (I.T.); (K.T.)
| | - Katerina Tseniklidou
- Department of Forest and Natural Environment Sciences, International Hellenic University, 66100 Drama, Greece; (T.M.); (I.T.); (K.T.)
| | | | - Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
- Correspondence: (G.V.); (A.C.P.); Tel.: +30-25210-60473 (G.V.); +30-25510-30494 (A.C.P.)
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Postolache D, Oddou-Muratorio S, Vajana E, Bagnoli F, Guichoux E, Hampe A, Le Provost G, Lesur I, Popescu F, Scotti I, Piotti A, Vendramin GG. Genetic signatures of divergent selection in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) are associated with the variation in temperature and precipitation across its distribution range. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:5029-5047. [PMID: 34383353 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
High genetic variation and extensive gene flow may help forest trees with adapting to ongoing climate change, yet the genetic bases underlying their adaptive potential remain largely unknown. We investigated range-wide patterns of potentially adaptive genetic variation in 64 populations of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) using 270 SNPs from 139 candidate genes involved either in phenology or in stress responses. We inferred neutral genetic structure and processes (drift and gene flow) and performed differentiation outlier analyses and gene-environment association (GEA) analyses to detect signatures of divergent selection. Beech range-wide genetic structure was consistent with the species' previously identified postglacial expansion scenario and recolonization routes. Populations showed high diversity and low differentiation along the major expansion routes. A total of 52 loci were found to be putatively under selection and 15 of them turned up in multiple GEA analyses. Temperature and precipitation related variables were equally represented in significant genotype-climate associations. Signatures of divergent selection were detected in the same proportion for stress response and phenology-related genes. The range-wide adaptive genetic structure of beech appears highly integrated, suggesting a balanced contribution of phenology and stress-related genes to local adaptation, and of temperature and precipitation regimes to genetic clines. Our results imply a best-case scenario for the maintenance of high genetic diversity during range shifts in beech (and putatively other forest trees) with a combination of gene flow maintaining within-population neutral diversity and selection maintaining between-population adaptive differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Postolache
- National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry "Marin Drăcea", Romania
| | - S Oddou-Muratorio
- INRAE, URFM, Avignon, France.,ECOBIOP Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, INRAE, ECOBIOP, E2S UPPA, Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, France
| | - E Vajana
- Laboratory of Geographic Information Systems (LASIG), School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - F Bagnoli
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze), Italy
| | - E Guichoux
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Cestas, France
| | - A Hampe
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Cestas, France
| | - G Le Provost
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Cestas, France
| | - I Lesur
- Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Cestas, France.,HelixVenture, Mérignac, France
| | - F Popescu
- National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry "Marin Drăcea", Romania
| | | | - A Piotti
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze), Italy
| | - G G Vendramin
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze), Italy
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Meger J, Ulaszewski B, Burczyk J. Genomic signatures of natural selection at phenology-related genes in a widely distributed tree species Fagus sylvatica L. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:583. [PMID: 34332553 PMCID: PMC8325806 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07907-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diversity among phenology-related genes is predicted to be a contributing factor in local adaptations seen in widely distributed plant species that grow in climatically variable geographic areas, such as forest trees. European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is widespread, and is one of the most important broadleaved tree species in Europe; however, its potential for adaptation to climate change is a matter of uncertainty, and little is known about the molecular basis of climate change-relevant traits like bud burst. RESULTS We explored single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at candidate genes related to bud burst in beech individuals sampled across 47 populations from Europe. SNP diversity was monitored for 380 candidate genes using a sequence capture approach, providing 2909 unlinked SNP loci. We used two complementary analytical methods to find loci significantly associated with geographic variables, climatic variables (expressed as principal components), or phenotypic variables (spring and autumn phenology, height, survival). Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to detect candidate markers across two spatial scales (entire study area and within subregions). We revealed 201 candidate SNPs at the broadest scale, 53.2% of which were associated with phenotypic variables. Additive polygenic scores, which provide a measure of the cumulative signal across significant candidate SNPs, were correlated with a climate variable (first principal component, PC1) related to temperature and precipitation availability, and spring phenology. However, different genotype-environment associations were identified within Southeastern Europe as compared to the entire geographic range of European beech. CONCLUSIONS Environmental conditions play important roles as drivers of genetic diversity of phenology-related genes that could influence local adaptation in European beech. Selection in beech favors genotypes with earlier bud burst under warmer and wetter habitats within its range; however, selection pressures may differ across spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Meger
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kazimierz Wielki University, Chodkiewicza 30, 85-064, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Bartosz Ulaszewski
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kazimierz Wielki University, Chodkiewicza 30, 85-064, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Jaroslaw Burczyk
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kazimierz Wielki University, Chodkiewicza 30, 85-064, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
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