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Independent genetic control of drought resistance, recovery, and growth of Eucalyptus globulus seedlings
Author(s) -
Ammitzboll Hans,
Vaillancourt René E.,
Potts Brad M.,
Harrison Peter A.,
Brodribb Tim,
Sussmilch Frances C.,
Freeman Jules S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/pce.13649
Subject(s) - eucalyptus globulus , biology , quantitative trait locus , tree breeding , population , agronomy , genetic variation , resistance (ecology) , randomized block design , quantitative genetics , horticulture , botany , woody plant , eucalyptus , gene , biochemistry , demography , sociology
Drought is a major stress impacting forest ecosystems worldwide. We utilized quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis to study the genetic basis of variation in (a) drought resistance and recovery and (b) candidate traits that may be associated with this variation in the forest tree Eucalyptus globulus . QTL analysis was performed using a large outcrossed F 2 mapping population from which 300 trees were phenotyped based on the mean performance of their open‐pollinated F 3 progeny. Progenies were grown in a glasshouse in a randomized complete block design. A subset of seedlings was subjected to a drought treatment after which they were rewatered and scored for damage and growth postdrought. Nondroughted seedlings were assessed for growth traits as well as lignotuber size and resprouting following severe damage to the main stem. QTL were detected for most traits. Importantly, independent QTL were detected for (a) drought damage and plant size, (b) drought damage and growth recovery, and (c) lignotuber size and resprouting capacity. Such independence argues that trade‐offs are unlikely to be a major limitation to the response to selection and at the early life history stage studied; there are opportunities to improve resilience to drought without adverse effects on productivity.