Genetic variation and control of chloroplast pigment concentrations in Picea rubens, Picea mariana and their hybrids. I. Ambient and elevated [CO2] environments

Quercus aquifolioides Rehder & E.H. Wilson, an evergreen alpine and subalpine species, occupies a wide range of habitats in the Wolong Nature Reserve, southwestern China. We measured age-related carbon (C) and nutrient (N, P, K, Mg and Ca) contents, C/N, carbon isotope composition (d 13 C) and specific leaf area (SLA) in the leaves and branches of Q. aquifolioides trees along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 2,000 to 3,600 m. The results showed that both age and altitude significantly affected the morphological and physiological properties of Q. aquifolioides. Young tissues possessed higher contents of N, P, K and Mg, lower Ca contents, both on a dry mass basis (subscript ''M'') and on a unit area basis (subscript ''A''), and lower C/N and d13 C values than did the old ones. The levels of N M and d 13 C increased with increasing altitude above 2,800 m, but decreased with increasing altitude below 2,800 m. In contrast, C/N and SLA showed opposite patterns, and other nutrient contents, including P M , K M , Ca M and Mg M , exhibited irregular changes with elevation. On the other hand, d13 C was positively correlated with N M in both leaves and branches, and negatively correlated with SLA in leaves along the altitudinal gradient. Our results also showed that both the Mg M level of leaves and the Ca M level of branches, besides the functional correlations between the N M level and the structure of leaves, are responsible for or accompanied by variation in d 13 C. In addition, d 13 C was negatively correlated with C/N in both leaves and branches along an altitudinal gradient. It follows that high-altitude plants achieve higher water use efficiency (WUE) at the expense of decreasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE, derived from C/N), whereas plants at 2,800 m can maintain relatively higher NUE but lower WUE. These characteristics probably reflect the physiological potential of Q. aquifolioides for vigorous growth and metabolism at the optimum altitude (around 2,800 m). With increasing distance from the optimum altitude, NUE decreases. The observed intraspecific variation in the trade-off between WUE and NUE may partially explain the altitudinal distribution of Q. aquifolioides in relation to moisture and nutrient availability.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age-related nutrient content and carbon isotope composition in the leaves and branches of Quercus aquifolioides along an altitudinal gradient

Duan

et al. 2009

“…7b). Thus, there was strong species/genetic control of needle N, which also show a strong relationship to total chlorophyll concentration and to productivity (Major et al 2007a). …”

Section: Isotopesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hybrid 25 did show a positive heterosis for NAR and C:N ratio. Hybrid 25 has shown positive heterosis in productivity in seedling and mature tree heights (Major et al 2003c) as well as chlorophyll pigment content (Major et al 2007a). The various analyses consistently showed BS and low hybrid indices having a greater ability to absorb more N compared with RS and high hybrid indices.…”

Section: Hybridization and Inheritancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The various analyses consistently showed BS and low hybrid indices having a greater ability to absorb more N compared with RS and high hybrid indices. This may be related to the higher chlorophyll demand (Major et al 2007a) and the higher photosynthetic yield in BS than RS (Major et al 2003a, b). Furthermore, RS has consistently higher C:N ratio and NUE than BS.…”

Section: Hybridization and Inheritancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been positively associated with photosynthesis (Evans 1989;Grassi and Minotta 2000), chlorophyll pigment content (Major et al 2007a), relative growth rate (Ingestad 1977), and overall productivity in some studies (Grassi and Minotta 2000), but not in others (Johnsen et al 1999). Allocation of N and carbon (C) varies depending on species, age of foliage, and environment (Kranabetter et al 2003;Kumar et al 2002;Shinano et al 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative nutrient economy, stable isotopes, and related adaptive traits in Picea rubens, Picea mariana, and their hybrids

Major

Mosseler

Barsi

et al. 2007

Nutrient-and water economy-related traits in plants have significant implications for growth and fitness. We explored, examined, and compared nutrient concentrations, use efficiencies, assimilation, and informative isotopic elements in a seedling provenance experiment, and in seedling and mature tree controlled-cross hybrid experiments of red spruce (RS) (Picea rubens Sarg.) and black spruce (BS) (P. mariana (Mill.) BSP). Provenance experiment results showed RS had consistently lower carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations, and N assimilation ratio (NAR), but higher N-use efficiency (NUE), C:N ratio, water-use efficiency (WUE), and needle calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations than BS. The hybrid seedling experiment showed similar results and additive inheritance for needle N, C:N ratio, NAR, Ca, and Mg, evident by a near-linear progression from one species to the other. Within both species, seedling height showed a negative relationship with needle N and a positive relationship with NUE. However, across hybrid indices, seedling height showed a positive relationship with needle N and a negative relationship with NUE. Also across hybrid indices, seedling height showed a negative relationship to Ca and C:N, and a positive relationship with NAR and 13 C discrimination (without hybrid 25). Mature tree hybrid experiment results were similar to those of the seedling experiment, but with a dampening of differences caused by low nutrient availability and possibly age effects. The similarity was not true for 13 C discrimination as mature tree height showed a strong negative relationship to 13 C discrimination, indicating that BS had greater WUE. The reversal is most probably caused by the large difference in water availability.

Genetic variation and control of chloroplast pigment concentrations and related needle-level traits in Picea rubens, Picea mariana, and their hybrids: moisture and light environmental effects

Barsi

Major

Mosseler

et al. 2009

Chlorophyll pigment concentrations and proportions, nitrogen (N), and needle morphology traits, are important components of growth and were examined in five hybrid index categories from controlled crosses of various crosstypes, ranging from pure black spruce (BS) [Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.] to pure red spruce (RS) (Picea rubens Sarg.) grown under controlled light and water environments. Black spruce had on average 10% greater total chlorophyll concentration (CHL) than RS. Red spruce had proportionately less chlorophyll a:b and CHL:CAR (carotenoid) ratios than BS. Nitrogen (N) concentrations were 1.75 and 1.60% for BS and RS, respectively. Black spruce had the lowest carbon (C):N ratio (29.7) and RS had among the highest (32.3). Interestingly, there was no difference in specific needle area among hybrid indices. Most of the chlorophyll pigment, C and N traits followed an additive inheritance model, evidenced by a near-linear relationship from BS to RS across hybrid indices. However, for CHL, CAR, and CHL:CAR ratio, parental analysis showed significant male effects and non-significant female and male 9 female interaction effects. Black spruce males had 15.1 and 9.6% higher CHL and CAR, respectively, than hybrid or RS males, thus showing an underlying paternally inherited genetic control. Controlling for N differences, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that sun-grown seedlings had 22.2% or 300 lg g -1 lower CHL than shadegrown seedlings. Controlling for N, ANCOVA showed that the drought-grown seedlings actually had 6.7% or 100 lg g -1 greater CHL than the irrigated seedlings. Sun plus drought conditions gave the lowest CHL, N, and CHL:CAR ratio of all treatments, showing an additive multi-stress effect. There was a significant hybrid index 9 light effect as a result of rank changes. Sun-grown RS had the lowest CHL and N values, whereas shade-grown RS had among the highest CHL and N values. Red spruce are at a competitive disadvantage compared with BS and most hybrid spruce in high light, high drought, and high light plus drought conditions. Red spruce will be strongly limited in its distribution by successional opportunities resulting from prevalent harvesting practices such as clearcutting. Silvicultural modifications and genetic restoration will be required to maintain RS on the landscape of northeastern North America.