Relation between genetic diversity and pollution impact in a 1912 experiment with East European Pinussylvestris provenances

Abstract

Results are presented of genetic variation and growth decline due to pollution for 11 European populations, 1 Turkish population, and 1 Siberian population of Scots pine (Pinussylvestris L.) growing in a provenance experiment established in 1912 in Pulawy, southeastern Poland. Since 1966 this area has been subjected to acute pollution from a nitrogen-fertilizer factory emitting high levels of SO2, NOx, NH3, and other toxic compounds. A significant negative correlation was found between genotype polymorphism indices and radial growth decline since 1966 assessed using tree-ring analysis (r = −0.58, P = 0.04). Populations with the highest values for genotype polymorphism index, numbers of alleles per locus, and numbers of genotypes per locus exhibited less of a decline in radial growth than those populations with lower values for these parameters. The results provide experimental support for the hypothesis that genetically richer populations are better adapted to changing conditions and suggest that such populations are less sensitive to air pollution in terms of growth reduction.

Long-term growth performance and productivity of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations

“…The habitats of Scots pine populations in the highlands show a scattered distribution [17]. Topographical features of the landscape that limit gene flow may narrow the genetic divergence and reduce the adaptive ability of trees [51]. Populations existing at the margin of the distribution may be seriously degraded, inbred and exposed to unknown random effects.…”

Differences in wood properties of Picea abies L. Karst. in relation to site of provenance and population genetics

“…The major advantages of nuclear microsatellite markers are their lower sensitivity to the variation in population effective size and the possibility of assessing heterozygosity (Scotti et al 2006). Populations characterized by a narrow genetic basis are thought to be more sensitive to environmental changes or disease, leading to a decrease in productivity (Oleksyn et al 1994). Another benefit of studying simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers is their high ability of alleles' discriminations.…”

A fast screening approach for genetic tolerance to air pollution in Scots pine field tests

“…Several independent studies reported a positive relationship between the genetic polymorphism of trees and their tolerance to air pollution (Geburek et al 1987, Oleksyn et al 1994, Prus-Glowacki et al 2006). There was a significant Scots pine provenance variation in tolerance to air pollution in the vicinity of a nitrogen fertilizer plant in Poland (Oleksyn et al 1994). Radial increment together with crown defoliation proved to be appropriate indicators of pollution tolerance in Scots pine genetic field tests (Oleksyn et al 1994 The objective of our study was to develop a screening approach for genetic tolerance to industrial pollution in Scots pine.…”

“…There was a significant Scots pine provenance variation in tolerance to air pollution in the vicinity of a nitrogen fertilizer plant in Poland (Oleksyn et al 1994). Radial increment together with crown defoliation proved to be appropriate indicators of pollution tolerance in Scots pine genetic field tests (Oleksyn et al 1994 The objective of our study was to develop a screening approach for genetic tolerance to industrial pollution in Scots pine. We assessed the relationship between the temporal variation in strength of genetic control of radial increment of the seed orchard clones and past pollutant emissions.…”

“…Though the genetic tolerance experiments are less abundant, there is a strong indication of a genetic component in the pollution stress tolerance (Bergmann & Scholz 1987b, Korshikov et al 2002, Prus-Glowacki et al 2006. Several independent studies reported a positive relationship between the genetic polymorphism of trees and their tolerance to air pollution (Geburek et al 1987, Oleksyn et al 1994, Prus-Glowacki et al 2006). There was a significant Scots pine provenance variation in tolerance to air pollution in the vicinity of a nitrogen fertilizer plant in Poland (Oleksyn et al 1994).…”