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Phenotypic plasticity and genetic adaptation of functional traits influences intra-specific variation in hydraulic efficiency and safety

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posted on 2023-05-20, 09:33 authored by Pritzkow, C, Williamson, V, Szota, C, Trouve, R, Arndt, SK

Understanding which hydraulic traits are under genetic control and/or are phenotypically plastic is essential in understanding how tree species will respond to rapid shifts in climate. We quantified hydraulic traits in Eucalyptus obliqua across a precipitation gradient in the field to describe: 1) trait variation in relation to long-term climate and 2) the short-term (seasonal) ability of traits to adjust (i.e., phenotypic plasticity). Seedlings from each field population were raised under controlled conditions to assess: 3) which traits are under strong genetic control. In the field, drier populations had smaller leaves with anatomically thicker xylem vessel walls, a lower leaf hydraulic vulnerability and a lower water potential at turgor loss point, which likely confers higher hydraulic safety. Traits such as the water potential at turgor loss point and ratio of sapwood to leaf area (Huber Value) showed significant adjustment from wet to dry conditions in the field, indicating phenotypic plasticity and importantly, the ability to increase hydraulic safety in the short-term. In the nursery, seedlings from drier populations had smaller leaves and a lower leaf hydraulic vulnerability, suggesting key traits associated with hydraulic safety are under strong genetic control. Overall, our study suggests that strong genetic control over traits associated with hydraulic safety, which may compromise the survival of wet-origin populations in drier future climates. However, phenotypic plasticity in physiological and morphological traits may confer sufficient hydraulic safety to facilitate genetic adaptation.

History

Publication title

Tree Physiology

Article number

tpz121

Number

tpz121

ISSN

0829-318X

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Heron Publishing

Place of publication

202, 3994 Shelbourne St, Victoria, Canada, Bc, V8N 3E2

Rights statement

Copyright 2019 The Authors. This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Tree Physiology following peer review. The version of record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpz121

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences

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