| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Miller, Allison [1], Knouft, Jason [1], Hunt, Kenneth [2]. Decoupling phenological events in temperate tree taxa: local climate influences timing of budbreak and flower inititation, but not nut maturity, in Carya illinoinensis grown in a common garden. The timing of periodic events in life cycles is critical for growth and reproduction in plants. Recently, numerous studies have addressed the potential impacts of climate change on phenological traits such as leaf and flower appearance; however, limited experimental evidence is available regarding the role of contemporary climate in the regulation of phenology in temperate tree taxa. Common gardens provide an appropriate system to examine the genetic and environmental influences on phenological traits in individuals from diverse geographic origins. Here, we investigate the role of annual temperature and precipitation on phenological traits in native and domesticated pecan trees (Carya illinoinensis) housed at the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. We hypothesize that phenological traits of individuals grown in common gardens are correlated with annual temperature and precipitation at their location of origin. In addition, we investigate whether phenological traits are correlated with annual temperature and precipitation at the common garden site. Phenological data (e.g., bud break, flower initiation, nut maturity) were collected for at least three years between 2002 and 2008. Annual temperature and precipitation data were obtained for the geographic origin of each of the native trees using 30-sec resolution GIS datasets. Linear regression analyses indicate there is no relationship between bud break, flower initiation, or flower duration and precipitation or temperature in the location of origin. In contrast, the date of nut maturity is correlated with mean annual temperature in the location of origin. Further, interannual variation in climate at the common garden is correlated with the timing of budbreak and flowering, but not nut maturity. These data suggest timing of nut maturity is a result of adaptation to local climate from the region of origin (genetically influenced), while timing of budbreak and flowering is regulated by local temperature experienced by the individual (environmentally influenced).
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1 - Saint Louis University, Biology, 3507 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63103, USA
2 - University of Missouri, Center for Agroforestry, Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, 203 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, 65211
Keywords:
Carya
phenology
common garden
local adaptation
climate.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for BSA Sections
Session: 24
Location: Wasatch B/Cliff Lodge - Level C
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2009
Time: 2:30 PM
Number: 24005
Abstract ID:682 |
