The Karelian Birch: a Unique Biological Object

Ветчинникова, Л. В.; Титов, А. Ф.

doi:10.1134/s2079086420020085

Cited by 9 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…carelica was indicated as a unique biological object, based on its habitat requirements (well-lit places, often less favourable for other tree species), extremely low competitive ability compared to other tree birches, variable growth forms (high-or short-trunked trees, bushes) and trunk-surfaces (ball-like thickened, small-tubercle or ribbed), patterned-wood texture (Vetchinnikova & Titov 2020). However, decision not to give species status to the Karelian birch was based on a widespread uncertainty about its genetic origin, although generally accepted criteria of a species are complied (Vetchinnikova & Titov 2020). In the controlled conditions, the proportion of progeny with wood features typical for the Karelian birch is 90%, which can imply a stable pattern of inheritance (Vetchinnikova & Titov 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, decision not to give species status to the Karelian birch was based on a widespread uncertainty about its genetic origin, although generally accepted criteria of a species are complied (Vetchinnikova & Titov 2020). In the controlled conditions, the proportion of progeny with wood features typical for the Karelian birch is 90%, which can imply a stable pattern of inheritance (Vetchinnikova & Titov 2020). Mashkina et al (2011) suggested that both genetic (karyotypic abnormalities) and epigenetic (physiological changes in cells arising under extreme environmental conditions) factors were responsible for the development of patterned wood in the Karelian birch.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All B. obscura trees sampled are tall and some of them produce flowers and seeds. As most of the Karelian birch trees are at a late generative and even post-generative stage of development, in practice, there is no viable understory within the entire geographical area (Vetchinnikova & Titov 2020). The flowering seasons of dark and silver birches as well as the Karelian and downy birches mostly overlap (Hrynkiewicz-Sudnik 1962, Vetchinnikova & Titov 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These trees are picturesque elements of the European forests. Moreover, the wood of Karelian birch has long been used in the furniture and veneers industries as well as for producing unique gifts (Vetchinnikova & Titov 2020); thus, B. pendula var. carelica also has an economic value.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analyses of molecular markers and leaf morphology of two rare birches, Betula obscura and B. pendula var. carelica

Jadwiszczak

Ветчинникова

Bona

et al. 2020

AFR

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Trees and shrubs belonging to the Betula L. genus seem to represent one of the most confused interspecific relationships, and hybridization is considered to be one of the main factors responsible for the substantial genetic and morphological variation of birches. In the present investigation, the internal transcribed spacer ITS1 and ITS2 regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA, nuclear alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) gene sequences and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) as well as the Atkinson discriminant function (ADF) of leaf morphology were used to verify hypotheses concerning the origin of the dark barked Betula obscura and B. pendula var. carelica with the patterned wood. Both plants were considered by different authors to be distinct species, intraspecific forms of common B. pendula or B. pubescens, or hybrid taxa between B. pendula and B. pubescens. In the phylogenetic trees, the ITS and ADH gene sequences of both B. obscura and B. pendula var. carelica clustered with those of B. pendula, whereas B. pubescens trees were somewhat distinct. In turn, the AFLPs revealed genetic similarity of B. pendula var. carelica to both frequent species, whereas B. obscura was clearly distinct from other birches. Values of the ADF indices of the rare birches were typical for B. pendula. In the light of the results obtained, we imply that B. obscura and B. pendula var. carelica represent an intraspecific variation of B. pendula, they are neither intraspecific taxa of B. pubescens nor hybrid species between the common birches. Different grouping of B. obscura in the AFLPs and DNA sequences analyses is likely a result of an unreliable phylogenetic signal of the former molecular markers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analyses of molecular markers and leaf morphology of two rare birches, Betula obscura and B. pendula var. carelica

Jadwiszczak

Ветчинникова

Bona

et al. 2020

AFR

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“…The ongoing climate change manifested in Slovakia by higher temperatures and prolonged periods of spring droughts make the natural regeneration of curly birch even more difficult. No viable regeneration within the entire geographical range of curly birch was pointed out by Vetchinnikova and Titov 7 . Thus, urgent protection actions are highly advisable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Differences in survival and phenotypic traits of curly birch preserved by heterovegetative propagation: a case study from Central-East Europe

Sarvašová

Sedmák

Sedmáková

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Curly birch (Betula pendula Roth. var. carelica [Merklin] Hämet-Ahti) is a disappearing representative of the Betula genus facing a regeneration failure in a large part of its natural distribution in Europe. The unique long-term study of clonal replications originating in heterogeneous environments enabled the evaluation of long-term survival and phenotypic stability of progenies in seed orchard to assess the conservation and commercial potential of heterovegetative propagation. Seventy-eight geographic sources (95 clone origins) representing the south distribution edge in East-Central Europe were analysed for species variation in survival, growth form, bark colour, and stem quality of parent trees and their vegetative progeny, and the effects of four parental site origin characteristics. The survival rate was 73% after 28–33 years of growth. Retention of curly-grained wood was high, the curly-grained wood structure is heritable and thus clonally efficiently achievable (only 3.5% of grafted individuals showed no occurrence of figured wood structure). The phenotypic expression of curliness manifested on the trunks as bulges, stem growth forms (tree/shrub) and stem technical quality showed a lower degree of stability (coincidence) between the parent trees and heterovegatively propagated progenies. Despite this, the conservation potential of seed orchard is very high, especially when stabilization of the stem growth forms affecting the survival and commercial value of progenies can be probably achieved by a more careful selection of scions. Overall, heterovegetative orchards seem to be a very promising method for the long-term conservation of curly birch populations, which, in addition to their great biological and ecological value, have considerable commercial potential.

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