Identification of drought-sensitive beech ecotypes by physiological parameters

•  The effects of drought on European beech (Fagus sylvatica) were assessed in a pot experiment under controlled conditions. •  Plants from 11 autochthonous provenances originating from regions in Germany, which differed in annual precipitation, were exposed to a 3-wk drought period in a glasshouse after the first stage of shoot growth had been completed. •  Drought reduced the water content to 97% of control in leaves and axes and to 92% in the roots. A strong reduction of predawn water potential in roots and shoots, as well as on transpiration rate, was found. In the roots, the effect on water potential was the same for all provenances, but differences were observed in the shoot water potential. Leaf concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA), proline and sucrose increased in the drought-treated plants compared with the controls. •  Two extreme clusters from opposite climatic sites were identified by cluster analysis. A drought-sensitive cluster, originating from regions with high annual precipitation, had low water potential and transpiration rates, as well as high concentrations of fructose, ABA and proline after drought. Water potential and transpiration rates were less affected by drought in the other cluster, which comprised two provenances of relatively dry habitats, and concentrations of hexose, ABA and proline were low.