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Elevated temperature during reproductive development affects cone traits and progeny performance in Picea glauca x
Joe Webber1, Peter Ott, John Owens
1British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Research Branch, P.O. Box 9536, Station Provincial Government, Victoria, BC V8W 9C4, Canada. jwebber@saltspring.com
Tree Physiology
|August 4, 2005
Summary
Elevated temperatures during reproductive development of interior spruce (Picea glauca and Picea engelmannii) accelerated seed development but reduced progeny frost hardiness. Pollen cone development also accelerated with higher temperatures, but pollen yield and viability decreased. These effects are biologically significant but small.
Area of Science:
- Forestry
- Plant Physiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Understanding temperature effects on conifer reproductive development is crucial for predicting climate change impacts.
- Interior spruce (Picea glauca and Picea engelmannii) are important commercial timber species in North America.
- Seed orchard management aims to optimize seed production and progeny performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the effects of different temperature regimes on seed and pollen cone development in interior spruce.
- To assess the impact of these temperature treatments on the adaptive traits of the resulting progeny, including frost hardiness and growth.
- To investigate potential mechanisms, such as gametophytic and early embryo selection, driving observed differences.
Main Methods:
- Two temperature regimes (22/8°C vs. 14/8°C day/night) were applied during seed cone development post-pollination to early embryo stage.
- Two temperature regimes (20/8°C vs. 10/8°C day/night) were applied during pollen cone development from meiosis to pollen shedding.
- Progeny were evaluated for frost hardiness, bud burst timing, growth patterns, and final height over several years.
Main Results:
- Higher temperatures (22/8°C) significantly accelerated seed cone development, increased seed yield, and improved germination rates.
- Progeny from higher temperature seed cone treatments exhibited reduced spring and fall frost hardiness but no significant changes in growth.
- Higher temperatures (20/8°C) during pollen cone development accelerated pollen shedding but reduced pollen yield, viability, and fertility.
Conclusions:
- Temperature during reproductive development significantly influences seed and pollen traits, with maternal effects being prominent.
- While temperature-induced changes in progeny adaptive traits are biologically significant, they are relatively small.
- Current seed orchard deployment strategies do not require modification based on these findings.