Intra- and interprovenance variations in leaf morphometric traits in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

Abstract

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is one of the most important tree species\n in Europe. Due to substantial genetic diversity and phenotypic plasticity,\n beech has successfully adapted to different environments within its natural\n range. Provenance tests provide a good basis for studying within- and\n between-provenance genetic variation, due to homogeneous within-trial\n environmental conditions. The aim of the present study was to determine the\n within- and between-provenance genetic variability of certain leaf\n morphological traits among eleven beech provenances, grown in a common garden\n experiment. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for\n differences among the studied beech provenances. Principal component analysis\n (PCA) allowed a complex assessment of the relationships among the provenances\n and an estimation of multivariate relations among the analyzed characters.\n The results of the study revealed the existence of substantial variability\n among provenances (p<0.001). Likewise, high genetic variability was observed\n at the intra-provenance level (p<0.001). The first three principal components\n (PC1-PC3) explained approximately 81% of the total variance among the\n European beech provenances tested. The highest contribution on PC1\n corresponded to variables related to leaf size: leaf area (-0.882) and leaf\n width (-0.876). Based on the position of provenances on a PCA scatter plot,\n it could be assumed that European beech is characterized by a more ecotypic\n pattern of genetic variation rather than by clinal variation. Also, the\n presence of considerable genetic diversity within provenances will be\n important in the light of climate change impact on beech, since it could\n potentially facilitate rapid adaptation. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke\n Republike Srbije, br. 43007: Studying climate change and its influence on the\n environment: impacts, adaptation and mitigation]