Effects of temperature and drought manipulations on seedlings of Scots pine provenances. (26th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Taeger, S.; Sparks, T. H.; Menzel, A.; Rennenberg, H.
• Is Part Of: Plant biology. Volume 17:Number 2(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 361
• Page End: 372
• Publication Date: 2014-09-26
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; Plants -- genetics -- Periodicals; Plants -- growth & development -- Periodicals; Plant Proteins -- Periodicals; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/plb.12245
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1435-8603

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="plb12245-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Rising temperatures and more frequent and severe climatic extremes as a consequence of climate change are expected to affect growth and distribution of tree species that are adapted to current local conditions. Species distribution models predict a considerable loss of habitats for <italic>Pinus sylvestris</italic>. These models do not consider possible intraspecific differences in response to drought and warming that could buffer those impacts. We tested 10 European provenances of <italic>P. sylvestris</italic>, from the southwestern to the central European part of the species distribution, for their response to warming and to drought using a factorial design. In this common‐garden experiment the air surrounding plants was heated directly to prevent excessive soil heating, and drought manipulation, using a rain‐out shelter, permitted almost natural radiation, including high light stress. Plant responses were assessed as changes in phenology, growth increment and biomass allocation. Seedlings of <italic>P. sylvestris</italic> revealed a plastic response to drought by increased taproot length and root–shoot ratios. Strongest phenotypic plasticity of root growth was found for southwestern provenances, indicating a specific drought adaptation at the cost of overall low growth of aboveground structures even under non‐drought conditions. Warming had a minor effect on growth but advanced phenological development and had a contrasting effect on bud biomass and diameter increment, depending on water availability. The intraspecific variation of <italic>P. sylvestris</italic> provenances could buffer climate change impacts, although additional factors such as the adaptation to other climatic extremes have to be considered before assisted migration could become a management option.</p> </abstract>