*
 

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry

*

Genetic variation of Fraxinus excelsior half-sib families in response to ash dieback disease following simulated spring frost and summer drought treatments

Alfas Pliura (1-2)   , Vaidotas Lygis (3), Diana Marčiulyniene (1), Vytautas Suchockas (1-2), Remigijus Bakys (1)

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 9, Issue 1, Pages 12-22 (2015)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor1514-008
Published: Sep 08, 2015 - Copyright © 2015 SISEF

Research Articles


Ten juvenile Fraxinus excelsior half-sib families from two Lithuanian populations have been tested in the controlled environment for their response to ash dieback disease caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, detecting changes of genetic variation and heritability, as well as estimating genotype by environment (G×E) interaction and phenotypic plasticity following artificial spring frost and summer drought treatments. In 2014, a batch of 200 four-year-old ash seedlings was used for each treatment and control (no treatment). Health condition, bud flushing phenology and height were assessed for each seedling, and disease incidence and survival ratios were assessed for each family both before (at the beginning of the vegetation season) and after the treatments (at the end of the vegetation season). Disease incidence ratio increased from 0.77-0.80 up to 0.90-0.95. Tree mortality rates during one vegetation season were significantly lower in the frost treatment (21%) than in the drought treatment (25%) or control (31%). None of the tested F. excelsior families were completely resistant to ash dieback, although significant among-family differences in disease incidence and damage rates suggest an additive mode of gene action and thus a quantitative resistance to the disease. Neither disease incidence rates, nor tree health condition scores differed significantly among the applied treatments (including control) indicating in general a negligible effect of the simulated adverse conditions on health status of the ash seedlings. However, G×E interaction was found to be significant (at P > 0.05) for disease incidence, length of necrotic shoots and tree survival, implying that susceptibility of ash families to the dieback disease unequally depends on environmental conditions, and indicating a presence of genetic variation in plasticity and reaction norms of the tested families across environments (treatments). Substantially increased coefficients of additive genetic variation and heritability in health condition following both frost and drought treatments and compared to control showed that simulated stress conditions may noticeably contribute to expression of differences among the tested F. excelsior families in their resistance traits, thus enabling a better evaluation of performance of different families, an effective family selection for resistance, and achievement of a marked genetic gain.

  Keywords


Common Ash, Dieback, Disease Resistance, Genetic Variation, Heritability, Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus (Chalara fraxinea), Phenotypic Plasticity

Authors’ address

(1)
Alfas Pliura
Diana Marčiulyniene
Vytautas Suchockas
Remigijus Bakys
Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepu str. 1, LT-53101 Girionys, Kaunas reg. (Lithuania)
(2)
Alfas Pliura
Vytautas Suchockas
Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Studentu str. 13, LT-53361 Akademija - Kaunas (Lithuania)
(3)
Vaidotas Lygis
Institute of Botany of Nature Research Centre, Zaliuju Ežeru str. 49, LT-08406 Vilnius (Lithuania)

Corresponding author

 
Alfas Pliura
genetsk@mi.lt

Citation

Pliura A, Lygis V, Marčiulyniene D, Suchockas V, Bakys R (2015). Genetic variation of Fraxinus excelsior half-sib families in response to ash dieback disease following simulated spring frost and summer drought treatments. iForest 9: 12-22. - doi: 10.3832/ifor1514-008

Academic Editor

Alberto Santini

Paper history

Received: Nov 26, 2014
Accepted: Jul 24, 2015

First online: Sep 08, 2015
Publication Date: Feb 21, 2016
Publication Time: 1.53 months

Breakdown by View Type

(Waiting for server response...)

Article Usage

Total Article Views: 23173
(from publication date up to now)

Breakdown by View Type
HTML Page Views: 17408
Abstract Page Views: 1103
PDF Downloads: 3523
Citation/Reference Downloads: 30
XML Downloads: 1109

Web Metrics
Days since publication: 3115
Overall contacts: 23173
Avg. contacts per week: 52.07

Article Citations

Article citations are based on data periodically collected from the Clarivate Web of Science web site
(last update: Nov 2020)

Total number of cites (since 2016): 12
Average cites per year: 2.40

 

Publication Metrics

by Dimensions ©

Articles citing this article

List of the papers citing this article based on CrossRef Cited-by.

 
(1)
Bakys R, Vasaitis R, Barklund P, Ihrmark K, Stenlid J (2009)
Investigations concerning the role of Chalara fraxinea in declining Fraxinus excelsior. Plant Pathology 58: 284-292.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(2)
Bakys R, Vasaitis R, Skovsgaard JP (2013)
Patterns and severity of crown dieback in young even-aged stands of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) in relation to stand density, bud flushing phenotype, and season. Plant Protection Science 49: 120-126.
Online | Gscholar
(3)
Bradshaw AD (1965)
Evolutionary significance of phenotypic plasticity in plants. Advances in Genetics 13: 115-155.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(4)
Burdon RD (1977)
Genetic correlation as a concept for studying genotype-environment interaction in forest tree breeding. Silvae Genetica 26: 5-6.
Online | Gscholar
(5)
Danell O (1988)
Arbetsgång vid bearbetning av contortaförsök [Planning of work when analyzing trials of Lodgepole pine]. Arbetrapport 219, Institute for Forest Improvement, Uppsala, Sweden, pp. [in Swedish].
Gscholar
(6)
Douglas GC, Pliura A, Dufour J, Mertens P, Jacques D, Fernandez-Manjares J, Buiteveld J, Parnuta G, Tudoroiu M, Curnel Y, Thomasset M, Jensen V, Knudsen M, Foffova E, Chandelier A, Steenackers M (2013)
Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.). In: “Forest Tree Breeding in Europe: Current State-of-the-Art and Perspectives” (Paques L ed). Series: Managing Forest Ecosystems vol. 25, Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 403-462.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(7)
Enderle R, Peters F, Nakou A, Metzler B (2013)
Temporal development of ash dieback symptoms and spatial distribution of collar rots in a provenance trial of Fraxinus excelsior. European Journal of Forest Research 132 (5-6): 865-876.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(8)
Enderle R, Nakou A, Thomas K, Metzler B (2015)
Susceptibility of autochthonous German Fraxinus excelsior clones to Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus is genetically determined. Annals of Forest Science 72 (2): 183-193.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(9)
Eriksson G (2001)
Conservation of noble hardwoods in Europe. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 31: 577-587.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(10)
Falconer DS (1989)
Introduction to quantitative genetics (3rd edn). Longman Group Ltd, London, UK, pp. 438.
Gscholar
(11)
Falconer DS, Mackay TFC (1996)
Introduction to quantitative genetics (4th edn). Longman Group Ltd, London, UK, pp. 464.
Gscholar
(12)
Finlay KW, Wilkinson GN (1963)
The analysis of adaptation in a plant breeding program. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 14: 742-754.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(13)
Ghalambor CK, McKay JK, Carrol SP, Reznick DN (2007)
Adaptive versus non-adaptive phenotypic plasticity and the potential for contemporary adaptation in new environments. Functional Ecology 21: 394-407.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(14)
Ghelardini L, Santini A, Black-Samuelsson S, Myking T, Falusi M (2010)
Bud dormancy release in elm - Ulmus spp. Clones - a case study of photoperiod and temperature responses. Tree Physiology 30: 264-274.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(15)
Gillespie JH, Turelli M (1989)
Genotype-environment interactions and the maintenance of polygenic variation. Genetics 121: 129-138.
Online | Gscholar
(16)
Gregorius HR, Namkoong G (1986)
Joint analysis of genotypic and environmental effects. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 72: 413-422.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(17)
Goldstein DB, Holsinger KE (1992)
Maintenance of polygenic variation in spatially structured populations: roles for local mating and genetic redundancy. Evolution 46 (2): 421-429.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(18)
Gross A, Holdenrieder O, Pautasso M, Queloz V, Sieber TN (2014)
Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus, the causal agent of European ash dieback. Molecular Plant Pathology 15 (1): 5-21.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(19)
Gustiene A (2010)
Grybo Chalara fraxinea reikšme uosiu džiuties procese [Importance of fungus Chalara fraxinea in the process of ash dieback]. Musu Girios 11: 18-19. [in Lithuanian]
Gscholar
(20)
Husson C, Scala B, Caël O, Frey P, Feau N, Ioos R, Marçais B (2011)
Chalara fraxinea is an invasive pathogen in France. European Journal of Plant Pathology 130: 311-324.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(21)
Jain SK (1979)
Adaptive strategies: polymorphism, plasticity, and homeostasis. In: “Topics in plant population biology” (Solbrig OT, Jain S, Johnson GB, Raven PH eds). Columbia University Press, New York, USA, pp. 160-187.
Gscholar
(22)
Juodvalkis A, Vasiliauskas A (2002)
Lietuvos uosynu džiuvimo apimtys ir jas lemiantys veiksniai [The extent and possible causes of dieback of ash stands in Lithuania]. LZUU mokslo darbai, Biomedicinos mokslai 56: 17-22. [in Lithuanian with English summary]
Gscholar
(23)
Kirisits T, Freinschlag C (2012)
Ash dieback caused by Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus in a seed plantation of Fraxinus excelsior in Austria. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development 4(9): 184-191.
Online | Gscholar
(24)
Kirisits T, Matlakova M, Mottinger-Kroupa S, Cech TL, Halmschlager E (2009)
The current situation of ash dieback caused by Chalara fraxinea in Austria. In: Proceedings of the Conference “IUFRO Working Party 7.02.02” (Dogmus-Lehtijärvi T ed). Egirdir (Turkey) 11-16 May 2009. SDU Faculty of Forestry Journal, Special Issue, pp. 97-119. -
Online | Gscholar
(25)
Kjær ED, McKinney LV, Rostgaard Nielsen L, Nørgaard Hansen L, Hansen JK (2012)
Adaptive potential of ash (Fraxinus excelsior) populations against the novel emerging pathogen Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus. Evolutionary Applications 5: 219-228.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(26)
Kowalski T, Holdenrieder O (2009a)
Pathogenicity of Chalara fraxinea. Forest Pathology 39: 1-7.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(27)
Kowalski T, Holdenrieder O (2009b)
The teleomorph of Chalara fraxinea, the causal agent of ash dieback. Forest Pathology 39: 304-308.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(28)
Lygis V, Bakys R, Gustiene A, Burokiene D, Matelis A, Vasaitis R (2014)
Forest self-regeneration following clear-felling of dieback-affected Fraxinus excelsior: focus on ash. European Journal of Forest Research 133: 501-510.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(29)
Marshall DR, Jain SK (1968)
Phenotypic plasticity of Avena fatua and A. barbata. The American Naturalist 102: 457-467.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(30)
McKinney LV, Nielsen LR, Hansen JK, Kjær ED (2011)
Presence of natural genetic resistance in Fraxinus excelsior (Oleraceae) to Chalara fraxinea (Ascomycota): an emerging infectious disease. Heredity 106: 788-797.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(31)
Namkoong G, Jonsson A, Eriksson G (1992)
Genetic variation in nutrient response functions. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 85: 165-172.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(32)
Olrik DC, Kjaer ED, Ditlevsen B (2007)
Klonforskelle i angreb af asketoptørre [Clonal variation in ash dieback]. Skoven 39: 522-525. [in Danish]
Gscholar
(33)
Pliura A, Baliuckas V (2007)
Genetic variation in adaptive traits of progenies of Lithuanian and western European populations of Fraxinus excelsior L. Baltic Forestry 13 (1): 28-38.
Online | Gscholar
(34)
Pliura A, Lygis V, Suchockas V, Bartkevičius E (2011)
Performance of twenty four European Fraxinus excelsior populations in three Lithuanian progeny trials with a special emphasis on resistance to Chalara fraxinea. Baltic Forestry 17: 17-33.
Online | Gscholar
(35)
Pliura A, Marčiulyniene D, Bakys R, Suchockas V (2014)
Dynamics of genetic resistance to Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus in juvenile Fraxinus excelsior clones. Baltic Forestry 20 (1): 10-27.
Online | Gscholar
(36)
Queloz V, Grunig CR, Berndt R, Kowalski T, Sieber TN, Holdenrieder O (2010)
Cryptic speciation in Hymenoscyphus albidus. Forest Pathology 41: 133-142.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(37)
Santini A, Fagnani A, Ferrini F, Ghelardini L, Mittempergher L (2005)
Variation among Italian and French elm clones in their response to Ophiostoma novo-ulmi inoculation. Forest Pathology 35: 183-193.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(38)
SAS Institute Inc (2012)
SAS® Analytics Pro 12.1. SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC, USA.
Online | Gscholar
(39)
Scheiner SM (1993a)
Genetics and evolution of phenotypic plasticity. Annual Review of Ecological Systems 24: 35-68.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(40)
Scheiner SM (1993b)
Plasticity as a selectable trait: reply to Via. The American Naturalist 142 (2): 371-373.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(41)
Schlichting CD, Levin DA (1984)
Phenotypic plasticity of annual phlox: tests of some hypotheses. American Journal of Botany 71 (2): 252-260.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(42)
Schlichting CD (1986)
The evolution of phenotypic plasticity in plants. Annual Review of Ecological Systems 17: 667-693.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(43)
Schmalhausen II (1949)
Factors of evolution. Chicago University Press, Chicago, IL, USA, pp. 327.
Online | Gscholar
(44)
Shukla GK (1972)
Some statistical aspects of partitioning genotype-environment components of variability. Heredity 29: 237-45.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(45)
Skovsgaard JP, Thomsen IM, Skovgaard IM, Martinussen T (2010)
Associations among symptoms of dieback in even-aged stands of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.). Forest Pathology 40: 7-18.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(46)
Stener LG (2007)
Studie av klonskillnader i känslighet för askskottsjuka [A study on clonal variation in susceptibility to ash dieback]. Arbetsrapport från Skogforsk 648, Uppsala, Sweden, pp. 14. [in Swedish]
Gscholar
(47)
Stener LG (2013)
Clonal differences in susceptibility to the dieback of Fraxinus excelsior L. in southern Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 28 (3): 205-216.
Online | Gscholar
(48)
Sultan SE (1987)
Evolutionary implications of phenotypic plasticity in plants. Evolutionary Biology 21: 127-178.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(49)
Sultan SE (1995)
Phenotypic plasticity and plant adaptation. Acta Botanica Neerlandica 44 (4): 363-383.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(50)
Sultan SE, Bazzaz FA (1993)
Phenotypic plasticity in Polygonum persicaria. I. Diversity and uniformity in genotypic norms of reaction to light. Evolution 47 (4): 1009-1031.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(51)
Taylor DR, Aarssen LW (1988)
An interpretation of phenotypic plasticity in Agropyron repens (Graminae). American Journal of Botany 75 (3): 401-413.
CrossRef | Gscholar
(52)
Wricke G (1962)
Über eine Methode zur Erfassung der ökologischen Streubreite in Feldversuchen [About a method for detection of environmental variation range in field trials]. Z. Pflanzenzucht 47: 92-96. [in German]
Gscholar
 

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. More info