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Ecotilling was used as a simple nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery tool to examine DNA variation in natural populations of the western black cottonwood, Populus trichocarpa, and was found to be more efficient than sequencing for large-scale studies of genetic variation in this tree. A publicly available, live reference collection of P. trichocarpa from the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden was used in this study to survey variation in nine different genes among individuals from 41 different populations. A large amount of genetic variation was detected, but the level of variation appears to be less than in the related species, Populus tremula, based on reported statistics for that tree. Genes examined varied considerably in their level of variation, from PoptrTB1 which had a single SNP, to PoptrLFY which had more than 23 in the 1000-bp region examined. Overall nucleotide diversity, measured as (Total), was relatively low at 0.00184. Linkage disequilibrium, on the other hand, was higher than reported for some woody plant species, with mean r2 equal to 0.34. This study reveals the potential of Ecotilling as a rapid genotype discovery method to explore and utilize the large pool of genetic variation in tree species.

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Genetic differentiation of black cottonwood ( Populus balsamifera subsp. trichocarpa (Torr. & A. Gray ex Hook) Brayshaw) across a “no-cottonwood” belt on the coast of central British Columbia (BC), Canada, was examined using data on 3 year height, severity of infection by Valsa sordida Nitschke and Melampsora occidentalis H. Jacks., and abnormality of leaf flushing. The data were collected in a common-garden test consisting of 180 provenances of 36 drainages ranging from northern BC to Oregon, USA. The results demonstrated an ecotypic mode, north–south regional differentiation. Valsa sordida and M. occidentalis infected 41% and 89%, respectively, of the trees from the northern region, while 66% showed flushing abnormality. In contrast, only 1% and 27% of their southern counterparts were infected by the same diseases, and 1% had abnormal flushing. Trees from the northern region averaged 87% shorter than those from the south. Regional differentiation accounted for the highest amount of variation observed in all traits, with 60% in 3 year height, 34% in V. sordida, 76% in M. occidentalis, and 50% in abnormal leaf flushing. Regression analysis revealed geographic patterns that essentially reflected regional differentiation along the no-cottonwood belt. The species’ distribution biography, ecological characteristics, and life history suggest that restricted gene migration was the main factor responsible for the observed geographic patterns of genetic differentiation.

Incidence of western gall rust (Endocronartiumharknessii (J.P. Moore) Y. Hiratsuka), stalactiform blister rust (Cronartiumcoleosporioides Arth.), needle cast (Lophodermellaconcolor (Dearn.) Darker), and sequoia pitch moth (Synanthedonsequoiae (Hy. Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)) attacks were investigated in a lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta Dougl. ex Loud, van latifolia Engelm.) provenance–family test plantation located at Red Rock Tree Improvement Station, Prince George, British Columbia. This plantation contains 778 wind-pollinated families from 53 provenances in British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon Territory. Pest incidence was assessed in 1993 when the plantation was 21 years old. Provenance had a significant effect on resistance to the four disease and insect attacks. Regression models using latitude, longitude, and elevation as predictors accounted for 38% to 80% of the provenance variation in pest incidence. Geographic patterns of genetic variation in pest resistance essentially followed longitudinal and elevational clines. The most interesting finding is the strong relationship between pest incidence and provenance distance to the western limit of the natural range of jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb,): the closer a lodgepole pine provenance is to the edge of jack pine distribution, the higher is its resistance to the pests. We hypothesize that jack pine introgression may have played a significant role in the evolution of pest defense in lodgepole pine. Effective selection and breeding for pest resistance in lodgepole pine may have to look beyond the intraspecific gene pool.