Notivol E, Garcia-Gil MR, Alia R, Savolainen O
Genetic variation of growth rhythm traits in the limits of a latitudinal cline in Scots pine
Canadian Journal of Forest Research: 2007 37:540-551
Abstract
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) has the widest distribution of pine
species and the populations are locally adapted to very different
environmental conditions. Adaptive traits such as those related to
growth are optimal for understanding adaptation of populations to local
conditions in widely distributed forest species. A study of the timing
of growth during the first growing period of families in four
populations from the latitudinal limits of the distribution range was
conducted. Individual growth curves were fitted, and a set of variables
related to growth rhythm and timing of budset was obtained for genetic
analyses. Pooled heritabilities across populations were very high for
most of the traits (0.43–1.09), and population differentiation for
growth variables showed high values as well (QST = 0.19–0.71).
Phenotypic correlations were higher than genetic ones, and most of them
were positives. Even no general patterns of additive variances were
found, the high additive genetic variance obtained (14% ± 8%, mean ±
SE) suggests that additive genetic variance is not the limiting factor
for adaptation to a new optimum within much of the range for these
traits. Changes in means, additive genetic variances, and additive
genetic coefficient of variation by population are also discussed.
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