Genetic variability and juvenile–adult correlations of Norway spruce (Picea abies) provenances, tested in multisite comparative trials

Authors

  • Marius Budeanu National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, Braşov Research Station, 13 Cloşca street, 500040, Braşov, Romania.
  • Ecaterina Nicoleta Apostol National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, Voluntari, 128 Eroilor Blvd., Ilfov, 077190, Romania.
  • Raul Gheorghe Radu National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, Braşov Research Station, 13 Cloşca street, 500040, Braşov, Romania.
  • Lucia Ioniță National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, Voluntari, 128 Eroilor Blvd., Ilfov, 077190, Romania.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15287/afr.2021.2122

Keywords:

adaptability, age-age correlations, field trials, seed sources, trees breeding.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to analyze the stability traits between 33 Norway spruce provenances tested in five field trials across different environmental conditions, in two major variants of the Romanian Carpathians: outside of the natural distribution range (ONR) and in the natural habitat (INR). To justify the early selection, we selected 40-year-old trees and measured tree height (Th), breast height diameter, pruning height, crown diameter, tree volume, tree slenderness (Ts), pruning height ratio, and crown slenderness, which were then compared on a time series with measurements from trees at 30 and 10 years old, respectively. All provenances reacted to the changes in the environmental conditions, presenting higher Th in the warmer ONR environments, compared with the results of the mountain INR trials, with negative consequences on the stand's stability. In all trials, highly significant differences resulted between, and especially within provenances, suggesting a high potential for adaptation in the future climate change scenario. An analysis of the stability traits suggests that we must avoid ONR afforestation with Norway spruce. All the elite provenances (Marginea, Gurghiu, Comandău, and Sudrigiu), together with Câmpeni and Turda, were highlighted, both for the stability and growth traits, whereas the local provenances and the standard IUFRO provenance were ranked below the average of the trials. The age-age significant correlations and the ranking of the provenances show that no major changes occurred in the last ten years, confirming the backward selection performed at the age of 30 years. The juvenile–mature correlations were also strong but the different evolutions in time of the elite provenances eliminate the possibility of a juvenile selection. The forward selection strategy, for the best trees belonging to the six mentioned provenances, according to Ts, can be applied in the INR trials.

Author Biographies

Marius Budeanu, National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, Braşov Research Station, 13 Cloşca street, 500040, Braşov, Romania.

Department of Forest Genetics, Senior Researcher.

Ecaterina Nicoleta Apostol, National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, Voluntari, 128 Eroilor Blvd., Ilfov, 077190, Romania.

Department of Forest Genetics, Senior Researcher.

Lucia Ioniță, National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry “Marin Drăcea”, Voluntari, 128 Eroilor Blvd., Ilfov, 077190, Romania.

Department of Forest Genetics, Senior Researcher.

References

Albu C.T., Dinulică F., Bartha S., Vasilescu M.M., Tereșneu C.C., Vlad I.A., 2020. Musical instrument lumber. BioResources 15: 967–986. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.15.1.967-986Alexandrov A., Stancova T., 1997. Norway spruce provenance trials in Bulgaria. In: IUFRO “Norway spruce symposium”, Stara Lesna, Slovakia, 8 p.Anonymous, 2011. Management plan of Fâncel Forest District, Production unit 3 Tireu. INCDS Manuscript [in Romanian].Anonymous, 2016. Management plan of Avrig Forest District, Production unit 4 Sebeș. INCDS Manuscript [in Romanian].Anonymous, 2017. Management plan of Siriu Forest District, Production unit 6 Cașoca. INCDS Manuscript [in Romanian].Anonymous, 2018. Management plan of Brețcu Forest District, Production unit 6 Oituz. INCDS Manuscript [in Romanian].Anonymous, 2019. Management plan of Târgu Lăpuș Forest District, Production unit 2 Stoiceni. INCDS Manuscript [in Romanian].Badea O., Dumitru I., Cojocia C., Popa, I., 2015. The radial growth-competition relationship in Picea abies stands affected by windfall. Dendrobiology 73: 175-181. https://doi.org/10.12657/denbio.073.018Bosela M., Tumajer J., Cienciala E., Dobor L., Kulla L., Marčiš P., Popa I., Sedmák R., Sedmáková D., Sitko R., Šebeň V., Štěpánek P., Büntgen U., 2021. Climate warming induced synchronous growth decline in Norway spruce populations across biogeographical gradients since 2000. Science of the Total Environment 752: 141794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141794Boshier D., Broadhurst L., Cornelius J., Gallo L., Koskela J., Loo J., Petrokofsky G., St Clair B., 2015. Is local best? Examining the evidence for local adaptation in trees and its scale. Environmental Evidence 4: 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-015-0046-3.BreedR, 2016. An Open Statistical Package to Analyse Genetic Data (WP6). Available online: http://famuvie.github.io/breedR/ (accessed on 6 September, 2020).Budeanu M., Popescu F., Şofletea N., 2019. In situ conservation of forest genetic resources in Romania. In: Šijačić-Nikolić M., Milovanović J., Nonic M. (Eds.), Forests of southeast Europe under a changing climate. Conservation of genetic resources. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, pp. 195-205.Budeanu M., Şofletea N., Petriţan I.C., 2014. Among-population variation in quality traits in two Romanian provenance trials with Picea abies L. Baltic Forestry 20: 37-47.Chen Z.-Q., 2016. Quantitative genetics of Norway spruce in Sweden. PhD Thesis. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden. https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/13331/1/chen_z_160502.pdfDinulică F., Albu C.T., Borz S.A., Vasilescu M.M., Petrițan I.C., 2015. Specific structural indexes for resonance Norway spruce wood used for violin manufacturing. BioResources 10: 7525-7543. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.10.4.7525-7543Enescu V., Ioniţă L., 2002. Inter and intra populations genetic variation of some Norway spruce (Picea abies (L) Karst) forest genetic resources. Annals of Forest Research 45: 67-77.Florescu I., Chiţea G., Spârchez G., Dieter S., Petriţan I., Filipescu C., 2002. Particularities concerning the structuring and functioning of quasivirgine forest ecosystems in the Braşov mountains. Annals of Forest Research 45: 21-30.Frank A., Howe G.T., Sperisen C., Brang P., St Clair B., Schmatz D., Heiri C., 2017. Risk of genetic maladaptation due to climate change in three major European tree species. Global Change Biology 23: 5358-5371. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13802Gardiner B., Quine C.P., 2000. Management of forests to reduce the risk of abiotic damage - A review with particular reference to the effects of strong winds. Forest Ecology and Management 135: 261–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(00)00285-1Giurgiu V., Decei I., Drăghiciu D., 2004. Metode şi tabele dendrometrice. Ceres Publishing House, Bucharest, 575 p.Hayatgheibi H., Forsberg N.E.G., Lundqvist S.-O., Mörling T., Mellerowicz E., Karlsson B., Wu H., García-Gil R., 2018. Genetic control of transition from juvenile to mature wood with respect to microfibril angle in Norway spruce (Picea abies) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). Canadian Journal of Forest Research 48: 1358-1365. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2018-0140Héois B., Van De Sype H., 1991. Variabilité génétique de quinze provenances roumaines d’épicéa commun (Picea abies (L) Karst.). Premiers résultats. Annals of Forest Science 48: 179-192.Hylen G., 1995. Age-age correlation and relative efficiency of early selection for wood density in young Norway spruce (Picea abies). Icelandic Agricultural Sciences 9: 123-124.Isik K., Kleinschmit J., Steiner W., 2010. Age–age correlations and early selection for height in a clonal genetic test of Norway spruce. Forest Science 56: 212–221, doi: 10.1093/forestscience/56.2.212Jansons Ā., Donis J., Danuseviĉius D., Baumanis I., 2015. Differential analysis for next breeding cycle for Norway spruce in Latvia. Baltic Forestry 21: 285-297.Kapeller S., Dieckmann U., Schueler S., 2017. Varying selection differential throughout the climatic range of Norway spruce in Central Europe. Evolutionary Applications 10: 25-38. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12413Kauppi P.E., Posch M., Pirinen P., 2014. Large impacts of climatic warming on growth of boreal forests since 1960. PLoS One 9: e111340. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111340.Keenan R.J., 2015. Climate change impacts and adaptation in forest management: a review. Annals of Forest Science 72: 145-167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-014-0446-5Keskitalo E.C.H., Bergh J., Felton A., Björkman C., Berlin M., Axelsson P., Ring E., Ågren A., Roberge J.M., Klapwijk M.J., et al., 2016. Adaptation to climate change in Swedish forestry. Forests 7(2): 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/f7020028Koskela J., Lefèvre F., Schueler S., Kraigher H., Olrik D.C., Hubert J., et al., 2013. Translating conservation genetics into management: Pan–European minimum requirements for dynamic conservation units of forest tree genetic diversity. Biological Conservation 157: 39-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2012.07.023Lefèvre F., Koskela J., Hubert J., Kraigher H., Longauer R., Olrik D.C., et al., 2013. Dynamic conservation of forest genetic resources in 33 European countries. Conservation Biology 27: 373-384. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2012.01961.xLines R., 1967. Standardization of methods for provenances research and testing. XIV IUFRO Congress, section III, Munich, pp. 672-719.Loubère M., Saint-André L., Hervé J.-C., Vestøl G.I., 2004. Relationships between stem size and branch basal diameter variability in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) from two regions of France. Annals of Forest Science 61: 525-535. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2004047Marcu M., Budeanu M., Apostol E.N., Radu G.R., 2020. Valuation of the economic benefits from using genetically improved forest reproductive materials in afforestation. Forests 11(4): 382. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11040382Mensah A.A., Holmström E., Petersson H., Nyström K., Mason E.G., Nilsson U., 2021. The millennium shift: Investigating the relationship between environment and growth trends of Norway spruce and Scots pine in northern Europe. Forest Ecology and Management 481: 118727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118727Mihai G., 2009. Surse de seminţe testate pentru principalele specii de arbori forestieri din România [Tested seed sources for the main species of forest trees in Romania]. Silvică Publishing House, Bucharest, Romania, 281 p.Nanson A., 2004. Génétique et amélioration des arbres forestières (Genetic and forest trees breeding). Les presses agronomiques de Gembloux, Gembloux, Belgium, 712 p.Pârnuţă G., 2008 Variabilitatea genetică și ameliorarea arborilor de molid cu coroană îngustă în România. Silvică Publishing House, Bucharest, Romania, 181 p.Petersson H., 1997. Functions for predicting crown height of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies in Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 12: 179-188.Popa I., 2005. Wind throw-risk factor in mountainous forest ecosystems. Annals of Forest Research 48: 3-28.Pretzsch H., Biber P., Schütze G., Kemmerer J., Uhl E., 2018. Wood density reduced while wood volume growth accelerated in Central European forests since 1870. Forest Ecology and Management 429: 589-616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.07.045.R Core Team, 2017. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R foundation for statistical computing, Vienna, Austria. https://www.R-project.org/ (accessed on 6 September 2020).Rosner S., Světlík J., Andreassen K., Børja I., Dalsgaard L., Evans R., Karlsson B., Tollefsrud M.M., Solberg S., 2014. Wood density as a screening trait for drought sensitivity in Norway spruce. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 44: 154-161, https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2013-0209Ruotsalainen S., 2014. Increased forest production through forest tree breeding. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 29: 333-344, https://doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2014.926100Samariks V., Krisans O., Donis J., Silamikele I., Katrevics J., Jansons Ā., 2020. Cost–benefit analysis of measures to reduce windstorm impact in pure Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) stands in Latvia. Forests 11(5): 576. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11050576Semeniuc A.I., Popa I., 2018. Comparative analysis of tree ring parameters variation in four coniferous species: (Picea abies, Abies alba, Pinus sylvestris and Larix decidua). International Journal of Conservation Science 9, 591-598.Šilinskas B., Varnagirytė-Kabašinskienė I., Aleinikovas M., Beniušienė L., Aleinikovienė J., Škėma M., 2020. Scots pine and Norway spruce wood properties at sites with different stand densities. Forests 11(5): 587. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11050587Skrøppa T., Steffenrem A., 2019. Genetic variation in phenology and growth among and within Norway spruce populations from two altitudinal transects in Mid-Norway. Silva Fennica 53: 1-19. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.10076Snepsts G., Kitenberga M., Elferts D., Donis J., Jansons Ā., 2020. Stem damage modifies the impact of wind on Norway spruces. Forests 11(4): 463. https://doi.org/10.3390/f11040463.STATISTICA 10.0., 2010. StatSoft Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA.Steffenrem A., Saranpää P., Lundqvist S.-O., Skrøppa T., 2007. Variation in wood properties among five full-sib families of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Annals of Forest Science 64: 799-806. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2007062Steffenrem A., Solheim H., Skrøppa T., 2016. Genetic parameters for wood quality traits and resistance to the pathogens Heterobasidion parviporum and Endoconidiophora polonica in a Norway spruce breeding population. European Journal of Forest Research 135: 815-825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-016-0975-6Suvanto S., Peltoniemi M., Tuominen S., Strandstöm M., Lehtonen A., 2019. High-resolution mapping of forest vulnerability to wind for disturbance-aware forestry. Forest Ecology and Management 453: 117-159. https://doi.org/10.1101/666305Şofletea N., Budeanu M., 2015. Response of Norway spruce (Picea abies) seed stand progenies tested under different site conditions. Šumarski List 1-2: 47-57.Șofletea N., Budeanu M., Pârnuță G., 2012. Provenance variation in radial increment and wood characteristics revealed by 30 years old Norway spruce comparative trials. Silvae Genetica 61: 170-178.Şofletea N., Curtu A.L., 2007. Dendrologie. “Transylvania” University Publishing House, Braşov, Romania.Ujvari E., Ujvari F., 2006. Adaptation of progenies of a Norway spruce provenance test (IUFRO 1964/68) to local environment. Acta Silvatica Lignaria Hungarica 2: 47-56.Van der Maaten-Theunissen M., Kahle H.-P., van der Maaten E., 2013. Drought sensitivity of Norway spruce is higher than that of silver fir along an altitudinal gradient in southwestern Germany. Annals of Forest Science 70: 185-193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-012-0241-0.Vitali V., Buntgen U., Bauhus J., 2017. Silver fir and Douglas fir are more tolerant to extreme droughts than Norway spruce in south-western Germany. Global Change Biology 23: 5108-5119. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13774.Zeltinš P., Katrevičs J., Gailis A., Maaten T., Bāders E., Jansons Ā., 2019. Adaptation capacity of Norway spruce provenances in western Latvia. Forests 10(10): 840. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10100840.Żółciak A., Oszako T., Sabor J., 2009. Evaluation of the health status of Picea abies provenances growing on the IUFRO 1964-68 experimental plots. Dendrobiology 61 (Supplement): 63-68.Zubizarreta-Gerendiain A., Pellikka P., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Ikonen V.P., Peltola H., 2012. Factors affecting wind and snow damage of individual trees in a small management unit in Finland: Assessment based on inventoried damage and mechanistic modelling. Silva Fenniva 46: 181-196. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.441.

Downloads

Published

2021-12-27

Issue

Section

Research article