Limited genetic variability and phenotypic plasticity detected for cavitation resistance in a Mediterranean pine

  • Resistance to cavitation is a major determinant of plant survival under severe drought and can be used to quantify species adaptive potential. Interspecific variation in this key trait is well defined in woody species, but intraspecific variation (level and structure) resulting from standing genetic variation and phenotypic plasticity has never been determined.[br/] - Combining for the first time in situ characterization of natural populations and two reciprocal common gardens in dry and wet sites, we estimated variance components (phenotypic, genetic, environmental, and genetic × environmental) of cavitation resistance based on 513 genotypes of a Mediterranean pine, Pinus pinaster.[br/] - Despite the selected populations being climatically contrasted, phenotypic plasticity in resistance to cavitation remained low and was essentially attributed to family level. Between-population variation in cavitation resistance for both phenotypic and genetic variation was limited.[br/] - These results strongly suggest that cavitation resistance is buffered against genetic and to a lesser extent environmental variation (canalization) in maritime pine. Consequently, in a drier world, the increasing drought tolerance of Pinus species might be severely constrained by the low level of cavitation resistance variation, resulting in a large-scale loss of productivity.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Source ISSN: 0028-646X
Author Lamy, Jean-Baptiste, J.-B., Delzon, Sylvain, S., Bouche P.M., Pauline, Bouche, Alia, Ricardo, Alia, Vendramin, Giovanni Giuseppe, G. G., Cochard, Hervé, H., Plomion, Christophe
Maintainer CCSD
Last Updated May 5, 2026, 21:24 (UTC)
Created May 5, 2026, 21:24 (UTC)
Identifier hal-00964858
Language en
contributor Biodiversité, Gènes & Communautés (BioGeCo) ; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Bordeaux (UB)
creator Lamy, Jean-Baptiste, J.-B.
date 2014-05-05T00:00:00
harvest_object_id a9a9e3b7-1b64-44a6-9205-42a5801a95b4
harvest_source_id 3374d638-d20b-4672-ba96-a23232d55657
harvest_source_title test moissonnage SELUNE
metadata_modified 2026-04-22T00:00:00
relation info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1111/nph.12556
set_spec type:ART