Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15177/seefor.23-14
Exploring the Gene Pool of Silver Fir in Southern Germany on the Search for Climate-Smart Seed Sources
Charalambos Neophytou
orcid.org/0000-0003-1383-6942
; University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Institute of Silviculture, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Str. 82, A-1190 Vienna, Austria
*
Barbara Fussi
orcid.org/0000-0002-7104-3935
; Bavarian Office for Forest Genetics (AWG), Forstamtsplatz 1, DE-83317 Teisendorf, Germany
Nick Lamprecht
; Department of Forest Nature Conservation, Forest Research Institute of Baden-Württemberg (FVA), Wonnhaldestr. 4, DE-79100 Freiburg, Germany
Hans-Gerhard Michiels
; Department of Forest Nature Conservation, Forest Research Institute of Baden-Württemberg (FVA), Wonnhaldestr. 4, DE-79100 Freiburg, Germany
Muhidin Šeho
; Bavarian Office for Forest Genetics (AWG), Forstamtsplatz 1, DE-83317 Teisendorf, Germany
Karl Heinz Mellert
; Bavarian Office for Forest Genetics (AWG), Forstamtsplatz 1, DE-83317 Teisendorf, Germany;
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Central European populations of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) grow under a relatively wide amplitude of environmental conditions. Assuming that forest tree stands are locally adapted, the use of forest reproductive material from sites with limited water availability is expected to increase drought tolerance in future forests. At the same time, genetic diversity is of utmost importance as the basis of adaptation to a changing environment. Currently, a selection of potential sources for climate-smart reproductive material of silver fir is under way in Southern Germany. It is based on a multidisciplinary approach elucidating the genetic variation, site conditions, as well as tree resilience based on a dendroecological approach. The analysis encompasses a large number of stands representing the whole range of the species’ ecological requirements. The population genetic analysis based on molecular markers (nuclear microsatellites) provided important information concerning the gene pool of the species in Southern Germany. On one hand, it revealed genetic differentiation and transition zones between western and eastern clusters. On the other hand, the results indicated gradients and regional variation of genetic diversity. These patterns can be explained by post glacial recolonization and the peripheral character of the species at the northern limit of its distribution. Together with the outcomes of the site condition and dendroecological approaches, the results of the genetic analysis will be used to inform future provenance recommendations.
Keywords
Abies alba; genetic diversity; resilience; microsatellites; forest reproductive material
Hrčak ID:
313764
URI
Publication date:
26.9.2023.
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