Tree-Level Growth Patterns and Genetic Associations Depict Drought Legacies in the Relict Forests of Abies marocana

Bibliographic Details
Title: Tree-Level Growth Patterns and Genetic Associations Depict Drought Legacies in the Relict Forests of Abies marocana
Authors: Belén Méndez-Cea, Isabel García-García, Raúl Sánchez-Salguero, Víctor Lechuga, Francisco Javier Gallego, Juan C. Linares
Source: Plants, Vol 12, Iss 4, p 873 (2023)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Botany
Subject Terms: Abies marocana, drought sensitivity, tree age, selection signature, genotype–phenotype associations, dendrochronology, Botany, QK1-989
More Details: The frequency and intensity of drought events are increasing worldwide, challenging the adaptive capacity of several tree species. Here, we evaluate tree growth patterns and climate sensitivity to precipitation, temperature, and drought in the relict Moroccan fir Abies marocana. We selected two study sites, formerly stated as harboring contrasting A. marocana taxa (A. marocana and A. tazaotana, respectively). For each tree, dendrochronological methods were applied to quantify growth patterns and climate–growth sensitivity. Further, ddRAD-seq was performed on the same trees and close saplings to obtain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and related genotype–phenotype associations. Genetic differentiation between the two studied remnant populations of A. marocana was weak. Growth patterns and climate–growth relationships were almost similar at the two sites studied, supporting a negative effect of warming. Growth trends and tree size showed associations with SNPs, although there were no relationships with phenotypes related to climatic sensitivity. We found significant differences in the SNPs subjected to selection in the saplings compared to the old trees, suggesting that relict tree populations might be subjected to genetic differentiation and local adaptation to climate dryness. Our results illustrate the potential of tree rings and genome-wide analysis to improve our understanding of the adaptive capacity of drought-sensitive forests to cope with ongoing climate change.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2223-7747
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/4/873; https://doaj.org/toc/2223-7747
DOI: 10.3390/plants12040873
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/764167b5b07a4910ba27ee4c3d8679ed
Accession Number: edsdoj.764167b5b07a4910ba27ee4c3d8679ed
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:22237747
DOI:10.3390/plants12040873
Published in:Plants
Language:English