The use of plastid dna sequences for pomoideae focke subfamily phylogeny, species identification and population diversity studies

Rita Verbylaitė The use of plastid DNA sequences for Pomoideae Focke subfamily phylogeny, species identification and population diversity studies SUMMARY In this study was investigated the use of plastid DNA sequences for phylogeny, species identification and population diversity studies. Rosaceae family plants were used in this experiment. For population diversity studies it was used Rubus idaeus, and for phylogeny research – different Pomoideae subfamily species. For species identification it was taken unidentified species root samples. TrnL-trnF plastid region sequences were used for phylogeny and plant species identification, and for population diversity studies it was used trnS-trnG plastid region sequences. During this study the most suitable DNA extraction method for Pomoideae subfamily plants were identified. Also it was shown, that the most suitable method to analyse phylogenetic data, such as observed in this study is the maximum parsimony method. The monophyletic origin of Pomoideae subfamily including Vauquelinia and Kageneckia were confirmed. The close relationships between Crataegus and Mespilus were obtained. However, no intra-specific variation within the Pomoideae genera according to trnL-trnF plastid region was observed, and the hypothesis of Mespilus canescens origin still needs more data to be confirmed or rejected. In the second part of this study it was confirmed that sequencing is useful and one of the most promising method for species identification. The use of this method is constantly expanding because of the accumulating data in public sequence databases. Population diversity studies haven’t revealed any population differences among seven investigated Rubus idaeus plants, which were taken from different Lithuanian populations

Europinė miškų genetinio monitoringo sistema

Kauno miškų ir aplinkos inžinerijos kolegijaLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro filialas Miškų institutasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Can a Forest Tree Species Progeny Trial Serve as an Ex Situ Collection? A Case Study on <i>Alnus glutinosa</i>

Scientifically informed decisions for the long-term conservation of extant genetic diversity should combine in situ and ex situ conservation methods. The aim of the present study was to assess if a progeny plantation consisting of several open pollinated (OP) families and established for breeding purposes can also serve as an ex situ conservation plantation, using the case study of a Lithuanian progeny trial of Alnus glutinosa, a keystone species of riparian ecosystems that warrants priority conservation actions. We employed 17 nuclear microsatellite (Simple Sequence Repeat) markers and compared the genetic diversity and copy number of the captured alleles of 22 OP progeny families from this plantation, with 10 wild A. glutinosa populations, originating from the two provenance regions of the species in Lithuania. We conclude that the progeny plantation could be used as an ex situ plantation for the A. glutinosa populations from the first provenance region (represented by eight genetic conservation units (GCU)). Based on the present study’s results, we can expect that the A. glutinosa progeny plantation harbors enough genetic diversity of wild A. glutinosa populations from the first provenance region. This progeny plantation can serve as a robust ex situ collection containing local alleles present in at least one wild population with at least 0.05 frequency with 25 replications

Genetic Diversity and Its Spatial Distribution in Self-Regenerating Norway Spruce and Scots Pine Stands

Tree genetic diversity is among the most important factors determining the sustainability of forest ecosystems. The main aim of the present study was to track possible changes in genetic diversity of regenerating populations of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in areas subjected either to a natural disturbance (windthrows and subsequent clear-cutting of the affected spruce stand) or to a changed land-use legacy (pine regeneration on abandoned agricultural land) with the aim of testing whether the new forest generation retains the genetic diversity of the putative maternal stand. Eight highly polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to reveal the genetic diversity and its spatial distribution in the studied tree populations. Self-regenerating juveniles of Norway spruce and Scots pine were spatially random and as genetically diverse as in the putative maternal populations. Genetic differentiation between putatively maternal trees and regenerating juveniles was low for both species. A high genetic diversity and random spatial genetic structure revealed in the regenerating populations provides a basis for the formation of evolutionary and ecologically sound stands able to adapt to ever-changing climatic conditions. Information on the genetic dynamics of the studied natural populations of long-lived coniferous tree species may be important for evaluating possible changes in genetic diversity at a local scale following forest ecosystem disturbances and changes in land-use legacies

Genetic diversity of five broadleaved tree species and its spatial distribution in self-regenerating stands

European forest ecosystems are currently subject to various disturbances and shifts in land-use legacies. To be able to forecast the trends and consequences of the changes in genetic diversity following these disturbances, it is of crucial importance to understand the genetic dynamics of natural tree populations. The present study aimed at determining the extent and spatial distribution of genetic diversity in five common broadleaved tree species in Lithuania in both mature (putatively maternal) stands and in natural regeneration (juveniles) of the respective species. The genetic diversity of Quercus robur, Betula pendula, Populus tremula, Alnus glutinosa, and Fraxinus excelsior was assessed using eight nuclear microsatellite loci for each species; 417 samples of regenerating juveniles and 141 samples of putatively maternal trees were analyzed in total. The investigated populations of self-regenerating Q. robur, B. pendula, A. glutinosa, and F. excelsior juveniles showed spatially random genetic structures, while P. tremula regenerated mostly via root suckers and formed clonal groups. The genetic diversity in regenerating juveniles of all species was as high as in putatively maternal stands. The detection of adequate (substantial) genetic diversity in the studied regenerating populations of these five broadleaved tree species suggests that in Lithuania these species have a good potential to adapt to changing environmental conditions

The effects of different combinations of simulated climate change-related stressors on juveniles of seven forest tree species grown as mono-species and mixed cultures

The aim of the study was to assess changes in performance and competition for light of juveniles of seven forest tree species, Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa, Populus tremula, Quercus robur and Fraxinus excelsior, grown in mono-species and mixed cultures with isolated potted roots under the impact of different combinations of climate change-related stressors, simulated in a phytotron under the elevated CO2 concentration during one growing season, as follows: i) heat + elevated humidity (HW); ii) heat + frost + drought (HFD); iii) heat + elevated humidity + increased UV-B radiation doses + elevated ozone concentration (HWUO); and iv) heat + frost + drought + increased UV-B radiation doses + elevated ozone concentration (HFDUO). For the mixed cultures, three typical species' mixtures were used: i) P. sylvestris, B. pendula and P. abies, ii) P. abies, B. pendula and Q. robur and iii) F. excelsior, A. glutinosa and P. tremula. For the control, the same material was grown outside the phytotron in ambient conditions. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the effects of the complex treatments, species and species by treatment interactions were highly significant in most of the biomass, growth, physiological and biochemical traits studied. Pattern of species culture had highly significant effect on physiological and biochemical traits (except for H2O2 concentration); meanwhile it was of low significance for biomass and growth traits. Pattern of species culture by treatment interaction was highly significant in all traits, suggesting that the effects of the applied complex treatments vary depending on the pattern of species culture. Under the hot wet conditions the highest stem volume index, tree biomass, and growth were observed in deciduous P. tremula, A. glutinosa and B. pendula with more clearly pronounced differences in performance between different patterns of species cultures than in ambient conditions showing that the[...]Gamtos tyrimų centro Botanikos institutasKauno miškų ir aplinkos inžinerijos kolegijaLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro filialas Miškų institutasMiškų ir ekologijos fakultetasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Response of juvenile progeny of seven forest tree species and their populations to simulated climate change-related stressors, heat, elevated humidity and drought

WOS:000432485300001The study aimed to evaluate response and phenotypic plasticity of juvenile progeny of seven forest tree species Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Alnus glutinosa, Betula pendula and Populus trem - ula and their populations to climate change-related stressors, simulated in a phytotron – heat and elevated humidity and heat and drought – in comparison to performance in ambient (control) conditions. Treatment effect on sapling morphometric, physiological and biochemical traits was significant except for health condition, transpiration and photosynthetic rates and water use effi - ciency (WUE). Species effect and species-by-treatment interaction were strongly significant in most traits studied, indicating a great inter-specific vari - ability of responses to the applied treatments. Compared to control, stem di - ameter increment was lower for most species following both hot-wet and hot- dry treatments, while treatment impact on height increment was less pro - nounced and sometimes even positive. Drought caused significant defoliation in P. tremula, A. glutinosa and B. pendula , while under hot-wet treatment the defoliation in most species was lower than in control. Following hot dry treat - ment, WUE in P. abies, P. sylvestris and B. pendula was lower than following both hot-wet treatment and control, while in P. tremula, A. glutinosa and Q. robur WUE was higher. This suggests that the latter species are able to main - tain a balance between photosynthesis and transpirationGamtos tyrimų centro Botanikos institutasKauno miškų ir aplinkos inžinerijos kolegijaLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro filialas Miškų institutasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŠvietimo akademijaŽemės ūkio akademij