Genetic control of adventitious rooting on stem cuttings in two Pinus elliottii x P-caribaea hybrid families

Genetic control of adventitious rooting was characterised in two unrelated Pinus elliottii x P. caribaea families, an outbred F-1 (n = 287) and an inbred F-2 ( n = 357). Rooting percentage was assessed in three settings and root biomass was measured on a sub-set of clones ( n = 50) from each family in the third setting. On average, clones in the outbred F-1 had a higher rooting percentage (mean +/- SE; 59 +/- 1.9%) and biomass (mean +/- SD; 0.41 +/- 0.24 g) than clones in the inbred F-2 family ( mean +/- SE; 48 +/- 1.8% and mean +/- SD; 0.19 +/- 0.13 g). Genetic determination for rooting percentage was strong in both families, as indicated by high individual setting clonal repeatabilities ( e. g. Setting 3; outbred F-1 0.62 +/- 0.03 and inbred F-2 0.68 +/- 0.02 (H-2 +/- SE)) and the moderate-to-high genetic correlations amongst the three settings. For root biomass, clonal repeatabilities for both families were lower (outbred F-1 0.35 +/- 0.09 and inbred F-2 0.44 +/- 0.10 (H-2 +/- SE)). Weak positive genetic correlations between rooting percentage and root biomass in both families suggested a concomitant gain in root biomass would be insignificant when selecting solely on the more easily assessable rooting percentage.

Clonal propagation and storage of subtropical pines in Queensland, Australia

Clonal forestry is the approach used for deployment of Pinus elliottii x P. caribaea hybrids in Queensland, Australia. Clonal forestry relies on the ability to maintain juvenility of stock plants while selections are made in field tests, so that genetic gains are not eroded by the effects of stock plant maturation. Two parallel approaches are employed in Queensland to maintain juvenility of clonal material. Firstly, the ortet and several ramets of each clone are maintained as archive hedges <20-cm height for the duration of field tests. Secondly, shoots from archive hedges are stored in tissue culture at low temperature and low irradiance to slow growth and slow maturation. Once the best clones have been identified, production hedges are derived from both archive hedges and tissue culture shoots. About 6 million rooted cuttings are produced annually, representing almost the entire planting program of Pinus in subtropical Queensland.

高山松（Pinus densata）同倍性杂交物种形成的生态遗传学研究

种间杂交在自然界中普遍存在。杂交可以为群体带来多方面的遗传改变，具有重要的进化生物学意义。越来越多的证据表明，同倍性杂交物种形成是一种重要物种形成途径，在动、植物物种进化中扮演着重要的角色。同倍性杂交物种形成意味着一个稳定的、可育的、与亲本种间形成生殖隔离的杂种群体建立起来，但不改变染色体的数目。这种生殖隔离被认为是通过快速的染色体重组、生态分化、或空间分离形成的。对于现存杂交种的对比分析和对同倍性杂交物种形成的理论模拟都表明，适应性分化和生态转变在同倍性杂交物种形成中起着至关重要的作用。来自于生态成种的研究也表明生态选择自身就可以导致生殖隔离的形成和新物种的形成。尽管如此，我们对同倍性杂交物种形成过程的研究仍然较多地关注于染色体重组及相应的遗传效应；对于自然选择，特别是生态选择在同倍性杂交成种过程中的作用模式缺乏全面地了解。 本研究以同倍性杂交种－高山松为研究对象，利用地理信息学技术、基于天然群体取样的性状对比分析和人工杂交手段，全面地定量描述了高山松及其亲本种间的生态分化、生态转变下的天然群体生殖适应性、以及生态选择下的形态变异和种间杂交可配性。以此探讨了高山松的杂交成种过程，生态转变和自然选择的重要性以及它们与杂交种适应性、形态变异和生殖隔离之间的关系。利用地理信息学手段，对高山松及其亲本种间的生态分化对比分析表明：高山松与其亲本种间形成了明显的生态转变；在自然选择的作用下，高山松已经具备了对于青藏高原东南缘横断山区高山地带独特的生态适应性；相对于亲本种，它的适应性特征体现为混合型，在某些性状上它高出亲本种的适应性，在另一些性状上，它体现出居中、较低或者类似于亲本种适应性；高山松适生区由于地形地貌的复杂性，往往不连续，呈间断状。基于四个反映结实效率的性状、小孢子母细胞减数分裂异常现象及花粉萌发率在种间的对比分析表明，这些反映生殖状态的指标，在三个种及群体间并没有显著差异；相对于亲本种的天然群体，居于青藏高原的高山松群体，表现出了正常的授粉效率和生殖适应性。高山松天然群体正常的生殖效率表明，它经历了生态转变过程中的选择作用，已经具备了在新生境下，繁殖发展下去的生殖适应性。 在大规模群体取样的基础上，通过对反映植物个体发育和营养状态的球果和针叶形态性状的对比分析，我们发现，高山松及其亲本种间的形态变异存在以下特征：第一，绝大多数性状，在种间和种内群体间都存在着显著的差异，并且大部分性状的差异主要体现在种间；第二，高山松在大部分形态性状上介于两个亲本种之间，少数性状表现为超亲分离、类似于某个亲本或无种间差别；第三，在多数性状上，和亲本种相比，高山松群体都拥有较大的变异幅度。第四，在临近亲本种的群体中，高山松的形态特征更类似于所临近的亲本种。上述形态变异特征及其与气象、土壤、经纬度、海拔等因子间普遍的相关性，意味着生态选择在高山松成种过程中起了重要作用。总的来说，形态性状变异的总体模式揭示出：高山松在选择作用下的遗传和表型的精炼过程中已经形成了自身适应于高原环境的、稳定而有效的形态发育模式和资源利用方式，甚至是恰当的防御机制。 本研究通过云南松×油松的单交实验和油松×高山松部分双列杂交实验，检验了高山松及其亲本种间的杂交可配性。结果表明，就平均水平而言，高山松及其亲本种间的种间杂交结实可配性低于种内杂交，但个别种间杂交组合的结实可配性可能高于种间杂交；高山松及其亲本种间正在或已经形成了部分的合子后生殖障碍；现存的高山松群体及其亲本种间的生态地理隔离可能是很有效的生殖隔离形式，一方面做为合子前生殖隔离，它能避免种间相互传粉、阻碍种间杂交的发生，另一方面做为合子后生殖隔离，它能清除掉可能存在的劣势回交产物。 综合已有的证据，我们提出了高山松同倍性杂交物种形成模型：高山松的同倍性杂交成种是与青藏高原隆升过程以及隆升过程中所产生的全新生态空间紧密相关的；青藏高原隆升导致了生态环境的剧变，创造了全新的生态位，在选择的作用下，拥有综合了双亲遗传基础的杂种基因型开始占领这个全新的生态位；在分化的生态选择的持续作用下，杂种基因型在新的生境下稳定下来，形成了独立于亲本种的资源利用方式、形态特征和繁育系统，具备了完善的生殖和生态适应性；此时，一个与亲本种间以生态隔离存在的同倍性杂交种－高山松形成了；随着分化的生态选择的持续进行,高山松与亲本种间的内在生殖隔离不断加强。

DEVELOPMENT OF MICROSATELLITE LOCI FOR PINUS KORAIENSIS (PINACEAE)

Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed for Pinus koraiensis to characterize its genetic diversity and understand its population structure. Methods and Results: Using the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences COntaining (FIASCO) Repeats protocol, 20 primer sets were developed in Chinese populations of P. koraiensis. Three of the markers showed polymorphism with two alleles per locus when assessed in a sample of two populations of P. koraiensis from the Changbai Mountain in the Jilin Province of China. Five and three loci were successfully amplified in P. taiwanensis and P. massoniana, respectively. The amplification size of these loci matches those in P. koraiensis. Conclusions: These markers may be useful for further investigation of population genetics of P. koraiensis.

Parâmetros genéticos da densidade básica da madeira de Pinus oocarpa.

2008

Patterns of variation at a mitochondrial sequence-tagged-site locus provides new insights into the postglacial history of European Pinus sylvestris populations

Due to their maternal mode of inheritance, mitochondrial markers can be regarded as almost 'ideal' tools in evolutionary studies of conifer populations. In the present study, polymorphism was analysed at one mitochondrial intron (nad 1, exon B/C) in 23 native European Pinus sylvestris populations. In a preliminary screening for variation using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism approach, two length variants were identified. By fully sequencing the 2.5 kb region, the observed length polymorphism was found to result from the insertion of a 31 bp sequence, with no other mutations observed within the intron. A set of primers was designed flanking the observed mutation, which identified a novel sequence-tagged-site mitochondrial marker for P. sylvestris. Analysis of 747 trees from the 23 populations using these primers revealed the occurrence of two distinct haplotypes in Europe. Within the Iberian Peninsula, the two haplotypes exhibited extensive population differentiation (Phi(ST) = 0.59; P less than or equal to 0.001) and a marked geographical structuring. In the populations of central and northern Europe, one haplotype largely predominated, with the second being found in only one individual of one population.

The extended phenotype of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris structures the understorey assemblage

Heritable variation in plant secondary compounds in dominant species has been hypothesised to effect ecosystem function and the structure of associated assemblages of plants, microbes and animals. The functioning of this extended phenotype in relation to the understorey vegetation composition was tested within a boreal forest system dominated by Pinus sylvestris which contains a range of monoterpenes, the composition of which is largely under genetic control. A variance partitioning approach was adopted to identify the relative importance of tree chemistry, environment, spatial location and tree architecture in controlling the distribution of species in the ground flora under individual trees. The monoterpene composition of the pine needles appeared to contribute significantly to controlling understorey vegetation composition, but was less important than environmental factors, though similar to spatial factors. Thus there appears to be a link between variation in the chemical composition of the single, dominant tree species within this system and the pattern of occurrence and abundance in other species at the same trophic level.

Cross-colonization of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus in the presence of inhibitory levels of Cd and Zn

The effects of Cd and Zn on cross-colonization by Paxillus involutus of Scots pine seedlings was examined by using pairs of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) and non-mycorrhizal (NM) seedlings grown in the same vessel. This was done to assess, first, the ability of P. involutus to colonize NM Scots pine seedlings by growth from colonized roots of other Scots pine seedlings in the presence of Cd or Zn, and, second whether ECM colonization of Scots pine by P. involutus provided a competitive advantage over NM seedlings. Ectomycorrhizal colonization of Scots pine was shown to be more sensitive than Scots pine itself to Cd and Zn, but prior colonization did provide a competitive advantage with respect to biomass production. This beneficial effect over NM seedlings was, however, equal in the control, Cd and Zn treatments, and was due simply to growth stimulation in the presence of ECM colonization. Cross-colonization from an ECM to a NM seedling was reduced but not prevented by Cd and Zn. Cd had a more negative effect on cross-colonization than on initial colonization of seedlings, whereas Zn had an equally inhibitory effect on both parameters. These results have important implications for plant establishment on metal-contaminated sites. If cross-colonization between plants is reduced by toxic metals, plant establishment on contaminated sites might be retarded.

Aspectos bioecológicos do pulgão-gigante-do-pinus, Cinara atlantica (Wilson, 1919) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), em Pinus spp. (Pinaceae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Polymorphic simple sequence repeat regions in chloroplast genomes: applications to the population genetics of pines.

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs), consisting of tandemly repeated multiple copies of mono-, di-, tri-, or tetranucleotide motifs, are ubiquitous in eukaryotic genomes and are frequently used as genetic markers, taking advantage of their length polymorphism. We have examined the polymorphism of such sequences in the chloroplast genomes of plants, by using a PCR-based assay. GenBank searches identified the presence of several (dA)n.(dT)n mononucleotide stretches in chloroplast genomes. A chloroplast (cp) SSR was identified in three pine species (Pinus contorta, Pinus sylvestris, and Pinus thunbergii) 312 bp upstream of the psbA gene. DNA amplification of this repeated region from 11 pine species identified nine length variants. The polymorphic amplified fragments were isolated and the DNA sequence was determined, confirming that the length polymorphism was caused by variation in the length of the repeated region. In the pines, the chloroplast genome is transmitted through pollen and this PCR assay may be used to monitor gene flow in this genus. Analysis of 305 individuals from seven populations of Pinus leucodermis Ant. revealed the presence of four variants with intrapopulational diversities ranging from 0.000 to 0.629 and an average of 0.320. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of cpDNA on the same populations previously failed to detect any variation. Population subdivision based on cpSSR was higher (Gst = 0.22, where Gst is coefficient of gene differentiation) than that revealed in a previous isozyme study (Gst = 0.05). We anticipate that SSR loci within the chloroplast genome should provide a highly informative assay for the analysis of the genetic structure of plant populations.