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GENETIC PATTERNS ASSOCIATED WITH GROWTH VARIABILITY IN PONDEROSA PINE
Author(s) -
Knowles P.,
Grant M. C.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1981.tb07810.x
Subject(s) - biology , loss of heterozygosity , perennial plant , genetic variability , pinus <genus> , range (aeronautics) , genetic variation , ecology , botany , genetics , allele , genotype , materials science , composite material , gene
Variability in annual growth increment in Pinus ponderosa was measured and heterozygosity level estimated in order to examine the relationship between genetic heterozygosity and phenotypic homeostasis in natural populations of a long‐lived perennial plant. Pollen was collected from 190 ponderosa pine trees in the upper montane region of the Front Range in Colorado and four isozyme systems were resolved electrophoretically from these samples. Each tree was cored, aged, and each annual ring width measured. Statistics estimating within‐tree variation in growth increment were then related to heterozygosity levels. The results indicated a significant positive association between level of heterozygosity and growth variability. Two speculations are offered to account for this relationship.